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The differences between telecommunication engineers and special 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 telecommunication engineer and a special project engineer. Additionally, a telecommunication engineer has an average salary of $80,789, which is higher than the $70,934 average annual salary of a special project engineer.
The top three skills for a telecommunication engineer include telecommunication, voip and RF. The most important skills for a special project engineer are DOD, design changes, and engineering support.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,789 | $70,934 |
| Hourly rate | $38.84 | $34.10 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 28,331 | 90,999 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| 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 You are also responsible for providing recommendations to upgrade outdated equipment.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 special project engineer is in-charged in the preparation, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring of engineering projects. He/She or she should be able to establish good relationships with prospective clients to gain information on engineering requirements and delegate tasks to staff. The core skills that a special project engineer should possess include good creative ability and excellent mechanical and listening skills. Other requirements to qualify for the position include a college degree in business or mechanical engineering.
Telecommunication engineers and special project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Telecommunication Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,789 | $70,934 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $109,000 | Between $52,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Newark, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a telecommunication engineer and a special project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between telecommunication engineers' and special project engineers' demographics:
| Telecommunication Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |