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The differences between structures engineers and assistant project 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 structures engineer and an assistant project engineer. Additionally, a structures engineer has an average salary of $73,391, which is higher than the $70,944 average annual salary of an assistant project engineer.
The top three skills for a structures engineer include structural analysis, revit and RISA. The most important skills for an assistant project engineer are shop drawings, contract drawings, and construction management.
| Structures Engineer | Assistant Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,391 | $70,944 |
| Hourly rate | $35.28 | $34.11 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 20,778 | 32,602 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A structures engineer works in designing, planning, and overseeing the development of the latest buildings and bridges or modifications and extensions to an existing property or other structures. They are mainly concerned with the safety and capability of the structure to withstand the elements to which they will be exposed--also improving the existing building structural integrity. Part of the task is inspecting properties regarding the conditions/foundation and checking work undertaken by contractors. The job is very similarly related to a civil engineer.
An assistant project engineer performs support tasks to assist project engineers in overseeing and managing engineering projects. Their responsibilities include conducting inspections and assessments, performing research and analyses, processing documents and certifications, managing schedules, liaising with internal and external parties, and providing technical support to staff as necessary. Besides reporting directly to the project engineer, they also work together in implementing policies and monitoring operations to ensure that engineering projects adhere to project guidelines and requirements.
Structures engineers and assistant project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structures Engineer | Assistant Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,391 | $70,944 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $98,000 | Between $55,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Oklahoma |
| Best paying company | Apple | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a structures engineer and an assistant project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Structures Engineer | Assistant Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between structures engineers' and assistant project engineers' demographics:
| Structures Engineer | Assistant Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 17.3% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |