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The differences between utility engineers and equipment 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 utility engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, 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 an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Utility Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,349 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $36.71 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 92,219 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Utility engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Utility Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,349 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $107,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Exxon Mobil | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a utility engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Utility Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between utility engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Utility Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |