Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between structural design engineers and 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 structural design engineer and an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $75,662 average annual salary of a structural design engineer.
The top three skills for a structural design engineer include structural design, CAD and autocad. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Structural Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,662 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $36.38 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 57,187 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Structural Design Engineer designs drawings, specifications, and computer models of structures for building contractors. They help design hospitals, office blocks, houses, bridges, ships, and other structures.
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.
Structural design engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structural Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,662 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $104,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Fort Bend County | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a structural design engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Structural Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between structural design engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Structural Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.1% 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 | 5% | 5% |