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The differences between utility engineers and building engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a utility engineer, becoming a building engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a building engineer has an average salary of $76,446, which is higher than the $76,349 average annual salary of a utility engineer.
The top three skills for a utility engineer include HVAC, autocad and plumbing. The most important skills for a building engineer are HVAC, ladders, and plumbing.
| Utility Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,349 | $76,446 |
| Hourly rate | $36.71 | $36.75 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 92,219 | 13,440 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A utility engineer is responsible for managing the energy resources within the industrial companies, measuring the amount of energy released, and identifying methods to minimize energy waste. Utility engineers run multiple quality checks with technological energy equipment to ensure its efficiency and stability in maintaining the accurate level of energy distribution to support commercial operations. They evaluate the energy needs of an area and recommend techniques to improve reliability. A utility engineer must have excellent communication and analytical skills, as well as extensive knowledge of mechanical ability to monitor and improve energy systems.
The job of building engineers is to provide advice on design, installation, and maintenance of energy-efficient and cost-effective systems for all building services, including lighting, water, and air conditioning. These professionals are responsible for the distribution of water supply and electricity and resolving tenants' maintenance problems such as plumbing and electrical systems. Additional duties of the building engineers include conducting tests on systems, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements, and liaising with construction professionals like surveyors and electricians.
Utility engineers and building engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Utility Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,349 | $76,446 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $107,000 | Between $49,000 And $116,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Exxon Mobil | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a utility engineer and a building engineer in terms of educational background:
| Utility Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Heating And Air Conditioning |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | - |
Here are the differences between utility engineers' and building engineers' demographics:
| Utility Engineer | Building Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 10.2% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |