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The differences between semiconductor engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a semiconductor engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a semiconductor engineer has an average salary of $96,951, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a semiconductor engineer include data analysis, RF and failure analysis. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,951 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 37,162 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
As a semiconductor engineer, your main job is to make semiconductors that are mostly made out of silicon. You have to create electrical products that enable the integration of workers, materials, and machines. Semiconductor engineers increase the efficiency of these semiconductors and develop new technologies for creating semiconductors for electric circuitry.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Semiconductor engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Semiconductor Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,951 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $134,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Applied Materials | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a semiconductor engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between semiconductor engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Semiconductor Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.0% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |