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The differences between special project engineers and cost 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 cost engineer. Additionally, a cost engineer has an average salary of $87,901, 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 cost engineer are project management, cost analysis, and construction management.
| Special Project Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,934 | $87,901 |
| Hourly rate | $34.10 | $42.26 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 90,999 | 65,278 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
Special project engineers and cost engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Project Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,934 | $87,901 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $95,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Energy |
There are a few differences between a special project engineer and a cost engineer in terms of educational background:
| Special Project Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between special project engineers' and cost engineers' demographics:
| Special Project Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| 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, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |