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The differences between structures engineers and professional 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 professional engineer. Additionally, a professional engineer has an average salary of $86,348, 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 professional engineer are civil engineering, project management, and PE.
| Structures Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,391 | $86,348 |
| Hourly rate | $35.28 | $41.51 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 20,778 | 74,009 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Structures engineers and professional engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Structures Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,391 | $86,348 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $98,000 | Between $63,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a structures engineer and a professional engineer in terms of educational background:
| Structures Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between structures engineers' and professional engineers' demographics:
| Structures Engineer | Professional Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% |
| 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, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |