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The differences between water engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a water engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a water engineer has an average salary of $98,752, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a water engineer include infrastructure, cost estimates and GIS. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Water Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,752 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $47.48 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,851 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A water engineer is responsible for performing a wide range of duties. They supply, manage and maintain both wastewater and clean water services to avert flood damage. They are in charge of preparing environmental documents for regulatory program compliance, water resources, fieldwork, data analysis, and management. They also provide technical direction to various technical personnel such as junior engineers, computer-aided design technicians, and other technicians.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Water engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,752 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $140,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a water engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Water Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between water engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Water Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 13.1% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 5% |