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The differences between structures engineers and geotechnical 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 a geotechnical engineer. Additionally, a geotechnical engineer has an average salary of $74,831, which is higher than the $73,391 average annual salary of a structures engineer.
The top three skills for a structures engineer include structural analysis, revit and RISA. The most important skills for a geotechnical engineer are geotechnical, civil engineering, and project management.
| Structures Engineer | Geotechnical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,391 | $74,831 |
| Hourly rate | $35.28 | $35.98 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 20,778 | 15,062 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| 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.
A Geotechnical Engineer plans and designs the structures for buildings, roads, embankments, canals, and other construction projects. They provide advice to civil and structural engineers, architects, and construction personnel.
Structures engineers and geotechnical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structures Engineer | Geotechnical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,391 | $74,831 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $98,000 | Between $56,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a structures engineer and a geotechnical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Structures Engineer | Geotechnical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between structures engineers' and geotechnical engineers' demographics:
| Structures Engineer | Geotechnical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 82.8% Female, 17.2% |
| 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, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.0% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |