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Senior structural engineer vs project field engineer

The differences between senior structural engineers and project field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior structural engineer and a project field engineer. Additionally, a senior structural engineer has an average salary of $94,406, which is higher than the $71,292 average annual salary of a project field engineer.

The top three skills for a senior structural engineer include structural analysis, rehabilitation and RISA. The most important skills for a project field engineer are shop drawings, project management, and OSHA.

Senior structural engineer vs project field engineer overview

Senior Structural EngineerProject Field Engineer
Yearly salary$94,406$71,292
Hourly rate$45.39$34.27
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs38,58478,589
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a senior structural engineer do?

A Senior Structural Engineer is responsible for investigating and analyzing different construction problems. They must determine the causes of defects of buildings' envelopes, roofs, walls, and other parts of construction.

What does a project field engineer do?

Field engineers are engineering professionals who work on-site in a different setting to direct workers and report to the management about the status of different projects. These engineers are required to resolve malfunctions or other crises such as construction or machinery problems while overseeing repairs and technical improvements. They must conduct research and studies on-site and installing new systems and technology to ensure smooth operations of machinery. Field engineers must also communicate with clients to discuss and determine the needs and explain complex issues of projects.

Senior structural engineer vs project field engineer salary

Senior structural engineers and project field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Structural EngineerProject Field Engineer
Average salary$94,406$71,292
Salary rangeBetween $70,000 And $125,000Between $56,000 And $90,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CARoseville, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaOklahoma
Best paying companyRivianOHL USA
Best paying industryTransportationEnergy

Differences between senior structural engineer and project field engineer education

There are a few differences between a senior structural engineer and a project field engineer in terms of educational background:

Senior Structural EngineerProject Field Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborColumbia University in the City of New York

Senior structural engineer vs project field engineer demographics

Here are the differences between senior structural engineers' and project field engineers' demographics:

Senior Structural EngineerProject Field Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 91.0% Female, 9.0%Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 17.8% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between senior structural engineer and project field engineer duties and responsibilities

Senior structural engineer example responsibilities.

  • Authore substantiation documents in compliance with FAA regulations and customer requirements to achieve type certifications and supplemental type certifications.
  • Perform project programming, project scheduling and detail cost estimates used to establish priorities in rehabilitation and construction projects.
  • Train to use SAP2000 to analyze highway RC bridges.
  • Analyze existing wing of a light aircraft for increase loading using FEMAP and NASTRAN.
  • Prepare new templates in MathCAD for engineers to use such as anchor bolts and weld design.
  • Prepare parking garage condition assessment reports and repair design, using carbon fiber material for some repairs per ACI 440.2R-02.
  • Show more

Project field engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage work orders utilizing client's MAXIMO and BSL system.
  • Manage document control including change orders, billings, RFI tracking, purchasing documentation and contract administration.
  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Obtain and evaluate geotechnical data at project sites.
  • Negotiate change-order work and prepare monthly project CPM updates.
  • Create and maintain change order logs on each project also maintaining RFI logs on all projects.
  • Show more

Senior structural engineer vs project field engineer skills

Common senior structural engineer skills
  • Structural Analysis, 9%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • RISA, 5%
  • ACI, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • CAD, 4%
Common project field engineer skills
  • Shop Drawings, 10%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Field Supervision, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 5%

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