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The differences between safety engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a safety engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $74,228 average annual salary of a safety engineer.
The top three skills for a safety engineer include OSHA, safety standards and safety program. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Safety Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,228 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $35.69 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 16,617 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The duties of a safety engineer depend on one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation of the safety policies and regulations in a company by conducting regular inspections and maintenance checks, coordinating with department personnel to gather data, assessing risks, and arranging precautionary measures. A safety engineer must also address issues and concerns, responding to them in a timely and efficient manner. Furthermore, there are instances when they have to lead safety orientations and seminars to maintain a safe and productive environment for everyone.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Safety engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Safety Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,228 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $110,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a safety engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Safety Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Connecticut | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between safety engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Safety Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |