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The differences between special project engineers and communications 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 special project engineer and a communications engineer. Additionally, a communications engineer has an average salary of $83,540, which is higher than the $70,934 average annual salary of a special project engineer.
The top three skills for a special project engineer include DOD, design changes and engineering support. The most important skills for a communications engineer are RF, unified communications, and unity.
| Special Project Engineer | Communications Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,934 | $83,540 |
| Hourly rate | $34.10 | $40.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 90,999 | 71,942 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A special project engineer is in-charged in the preparation, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring of engineering projects. He/She or she should be able to establish good relationships with prospective clients to gain information on engineering requirements and delegate tasks to staff. The core skills that a special project engineer should possess include good creative ability and excellent mechanical and listening skills. Other requirements to qualify for the position include a college degree in business or mechanical engineering.
The duties of a communications engineer depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around designing and developing new systems to optimize operations, performing research and assessments to identify company needs, determining the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a communications engineer, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Special project engineers and communications engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Project Engineer | Communications Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,934 | $83,540 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $62,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Shearman & Sterling |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a special project engineer and a communications engineer in terms of educational background:
| Special Project Engineer | Communications Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between special project engineers' and communications engineers' demographics:
| Special Project Engineer | Communications Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |