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The differences between stress engineers and 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 stress engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a stress engineer include finite element analysis, structural analysis and autocad. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Stress Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,036 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 36,117 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A stress engineer specializes in conducting analysis and assessments on structures and components, mainly using stress to test its structural integrity. They may work in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and even medical. Although their duties may vary upon the industry, they are typically in charge of performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with architects and engineers, designing and building prototypes, and maintaining records of all procedures. Furthermore, a stress engineer must produce detailed progress and findings reports in adherence to project deadlines and company policies.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Stress engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stress Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,036 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $156,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | CTS | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a stress engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Stress Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between stress engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Stress Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 19.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |