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The differences between telecommunication engineers and cost 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 telecommunication engineer and a cost engineer. Additionally, a cost engineer has an average salary of $87,901, which is higher than the $80,789 average annual salary of a telecommunication engineer.
The top three skills for a telecommunication engineer include telecommunication, voip and RF. The most important skills for a cost engineer are project management, cost analysis, and construction management.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,789 | $87,901 |
| Hourly rate | $38.84 | $42.26 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 28,331 | 65,278 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A telecommunication engineer is responsible for installing, testing, and repairing telecommunication systems including mobile telephone networks and fiber optic and digital satellite systems. Your day-to-day duties include diagnosing and troubleshooting systems faults, installing static and mobile antennae on masts and buildings, and designing, developing, and testing telecommunications equipment and components. As a telecommunication engineer, you are also required to provide guidance and support to telecommunication installers to ensure quality. You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.
A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
Telecommunication engineers and cost engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,789 | $87,901 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $109,000 | Between $64,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication engineer and a cost engineer in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between telecommunication engineers' and cost engineers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Cost Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |