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Structural test engineer vs structural design engineer

The differences between structural test engineers and structural design 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 structural test engineer, becoming a structural design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a structural test engineer has an average salary of $86,757, which is higher than the $75,662 average annual salary of a structural design engineer.

The top three skills for a structural test engineer include CAD, aerospace and test data. The most important skills for a structural design engineer are structural design, CAD, and autocad.

Structural test engineer vs structural design engineer overview

Structural Test EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Yearly salary$86,757$75,662
Hourly rate$41.71$36.38
Growth rate6%7%
Number of jobs29,66257,187
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4441
Years of experience46

Structural test engineer vs structural design engineer salary

Structural test engineers and structural design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Structural Test EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average salary$86,757$75,662
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $129,000Between $54,000 And $104,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between structural test engineer and structural design engineer education

There are a few differences between a structural test engineer and a structural design engineer in terms of educational background:

Structural Test EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyCarnegie Mellon University

Structural test engineer vs structural design engineer demographics

Here are the differences between structural test engineers' and structural design engineers' demographics:

Structural Test EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average age4441
Gender ratioMale, 91.5% Female, 8.5%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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%
LGBT Percentage8%5%

Differences between structural test engineer and structural design engineer duties and responsibilities

Structural test engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
  • Collaborate with frequency managers, FCC, FAA, and local spectrum authorities to plan frequency assignments.
  • Import the model to perform simulation in ANSYS to procure the optimum design of a typical high mach air-frame structure.
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical, aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements and communicate feed back to design engineers.
  • Utilize rapid prototyping as proof of concepts for multiple new designs.
  • Create PERL scripts to generate flying probe test programs from FabMaster outputs, saving licensing fees for commercial test development products.
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Structural design engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team on a year-long retrofit design effort for the F/A-18 E/F wing.
  • Review of design standards and procedures to conform to current IBC, ASCE, AWWA and ACI codes.
  • Perform stress analysis by hand and using FEA.
  • Load rating analysis and calculation methods base on AASHTO LRFR specifications.
  • Design steel pipe supports & frames for liquid natural plants using ASCE & AISC.
  • Perform seismic and wind load calculations in compliance with the ASCE 7-05, IBC and Ohio building codes.
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Structural test engineer vs structural design engineer skills

Common structural test engineer skills
  • CAD, 14%
  • Aerospace, 13%
  • Test Data, 9%
  • CATIA, 8%
  • Data Acquisition Systems, 7%
  • Test Procedures, 6%
Common structural design engineer skills
  • Structural Design, 15%
  • CAD, 10%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Aerospace, 6%
  • GD, 5%
  • Aided Design, 5%

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