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The differences between site managers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a site manager, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, which is higher than the $59,192 average annual salary of a site manager.
The top three skills for a site manager include customer service, safety procedures and oversight. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Site Manager | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,192 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $28.46 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 47,853 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
The tasks of a Site Manager may vary, but the responsibility will always revolve around supervising the construction project and its employees, making sure that the project is completed within the allotted time, budget, and quality. Site Managers are required to have great communication and leadership skills as they are often the ones to engage with the clients and coordinate with the employees. Moreover, It is also the Site Manager's responsibility to ensure the safety of employees, prepare site reports, conduct quality control procedures, assess and solve problems, negotiate contracts, and secure permits needed for the project.
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.
Site managers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Site Manager | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $59,192 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $109,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a site manager and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Site Manager | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between site managers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Site Manager | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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% |