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The differences between water engineers and plumbers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a water engineer and a plumber. Additionally, a water engineer has an average salary of $98,752, which is higher than the $55,337 average annual salary of a plumber.
The top three skills for a water engineer include infrastructure, cost estimates and GIS. The most important skills for a plumber are plumbing, hand tools, and plumbers.
| Water Engineer | Plumber | |
| Yearly salary | $98,752 | $55,337 |
| Hourly rate | $47.48 | $26.60 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 8,851 | 12,307 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
Plumbers specialize in assembling, detecting issues, maintaining, and repairing pipes and systems that can either involve water or gas distribution in a home or establishment, ensuring that they function efficiently. Additionally, Plumbers can also install various materials such as kitchen or bathroom sinks, toilets, appliances, and more. Among the tasks may revolve around training other plumbers or coordinating with other workers involved on a project, clearing obstructions and handling waste disposal, informing clients about the costs and process of repairs, and building rapport with them.
Water engineers and plumbers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Water Engineer | Plumber | |
| Average salary | $98,752 | $55,337 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $140,000 | Between $36,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a water engineer and a plumber in terms of educational background:
| Water Engineer | Plumber | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | High School Diploma, 53% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between water engineers' and plumbers' demographics:
| Water Engineer | Plumber | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 1.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 2% |