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Survey engineer vs structural design engineer

The differences between survey engineers and structural design 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 survey engineer and a structural design engineer. Additionally, a structural design engineer has an average salary of $75,662, which is higher than the $47,960 average annual salary of a survey engineer.

The top three skills for a survey engineer include GPS, vertical control and autocad. The most important skills for a structural design engineer are structural design, CAD, and autocad.

Survey engineer vs structural design engineer overview

Survey EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Yearly salary$47,960$75,662
Hourly rate$23.06$36.38
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs19,05657,187
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Survey engineer vs structural design engineer salary

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

Survey EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average salary$47,960$75,662
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $71,000Between $54,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CitySunrise, FLSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateFloridaCalifornia
Best paying companyAviat NetworksGoogle
Best paying industryEnergyManufacturing

Differences between survey engineer and structural design engineer education

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

Survey EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringCivil Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborCarnegie Mellon University

Survey engineer vs structural design engineer demographics

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

Survey EngineerStructural Design Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 92.1% Female, 7.9%Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.0% 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 Percentage5%5%

Differences between survey engineer and structural design engineer duties and responsibilities

Survey engineer example responsibilities.

  • Create maps and graphs, using GIS software and relate equipment.
  • Select the control point (BM) by GPS or global positioning system.
  • Utilize hands on equipment, total stations, GPS units, data collectors, and optical levels.
  • Perform calculations necessary to prepare individual residential lot permit and as-built plans necessary for township approval.
  • Adjust and operate surveying instruments such as prisms, theodolites and electronic distance-measuring equipment.
  • Job types include residential, commercial/industrial staking, water management elevations and wetland location.

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.
  • Show more

Survey engineer vs structural design engineer skills

Common survey engineer skills
  • GPS, 31%
  • Vertical Control, 11%
  • Autocad, 6%
  • CAD, 6%
  • RF, 6%
  • Survey Data, 6%
Common structural design engineer skills
  • Structural Design, 15%
  • CAD, 10%
  • Autocad, 7%
  • Aerospace, 6%
  • GD, 5%
  • Aided Design, 5%

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