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Construction projects have a lot of workers and engineers, and sometimes it is hard to distinguish those roles. Site and project engineers usually work together to manage projects and solve ongoing onsite issues. But what are the differences? This is the short answer:
Site engineer is an onsite position where engineers manage workers and supervisors and give the required technical support to carry out the project’s daily tasks. The site engineer report to the project engineer, who is in charge of ensuring that the project is executed on time, within budget and to the highest quality. Both positions are mostly site based.
For those who want the long answer, we have explained both roles in detail below:
What Is A Site Engineer?
Site engineer is an onsite engineering position. Site engineers work closely with labours and supervisors to give them the necessary technical support, answer all their questions and help them avoid problems or issues during construction.
To become a site engineer, you must complete a degree in civil engineering. However, you can also become a site engineer with a mechanical, electrical and even chemical engineering degree. This is because the position requires a logical approach to problem-solving instead of an engineering-specific background.
Site engineers work closely with project engineers, and both work together to complete the construction project.
What Is A Project Engineer?
The project engineer is the head of the technical team onsite, ensuring that the project is executed according to the drawings within the intended schedule and budget.
Project engineers manage the project onsite and troubleshoot problems that arise on construction sites, such as inconsistency with design drawings, unforeseen issues during construction, and making judgement calls on technical issues during construction.
They are also involved in safety procedures to ensure that work is executed safely with no impact on workers’ lives and minimal environmental impact.
Essentially the project engineer ensures that construction sites are run efficiently and on the highest level of quality. They work closely with site supervisors, site engineers, and project managers.
This is, in general, the key responsibility of the project engineer. We did leave some details that you can read here if you are interested in learning more: What Is Project Engineer? Role, Duties, Salary & More.
4 Key Differences Between Site Engineers & Project Engineers?
1- The project Engineer Is Above The Site Engineer
Project engineers usually have more experience, making them more senior than site engineers. Usually, there are around 3-5 years of experience between site engineers and project engineers.
2- Project Engineers Have Higher Salary Than Site Engineers
On average, Project engineers usually make more than site engineers. Project engineers make around $95,000, while site engineers make $88,000.
| Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineers | $65,000 | $95,000 | $140,000 |
| Site Engineers | $62,000 | $88,000 | $120,000 |
3- Project Engineers Job Is More Challenging Than Site Engineers
Project engineers are the link between project managers (offsite) and site engineers (onsite). They are usually in charge of maintaining quality documentation and take responsibility for any project delays and errors in construction or inconsistency with design requirements. Site engineers help project engineers to achieve those objectives.
4- Site Engineers Are Based Onsite; Project Engineers Can Work Anywhere
Because site engineers are always onsite, project engineers can work anywhere: from the office, home or onsite; they can rely on site engineers to run the construction site. This also allows them to attend meetings with the project manager and client and report job progress.
3 Similarities Between Site Engineers And Project Engineers?
1- Both Site Engineers & Project Engineers Work Long Hours
Project and site engineers work crazy long hours, averaging 46 hours a week or 9.2 hours a day.
In some cases, site and project engineers might work 12-15 hours a day to finish a major milestone, such as pouring concrete. This is not ideal, but almost everyone who works in construction is very much overworked.
2- Both Site Engineer & Project Engineer Have A Civil Engineering Degree
In most cases, site and project engineers come from a civil engineering background. Sometimes they can come from a mechanical engineering or an electrical engineering degree.
3- Both Site Engineers & Project Engineers Can Do Each Others Job
In the absence of either the site engineer or project engineer, either is more than capable of doing the other engineer’s job. This is because both roles usually overlap, which makes it easy to take over each other’s roles.
However, it might take twice the amount of working hours to do both tasks, which is why those roles are separate. In smaller construction projects, it is possible to substitute both roles for one role, but for major construction projects, it is quite challenging.
FAQ: Site Engineers & Project Engineers
How Long Does It Take To Become A Site Engineer?
It takes 3-5 years of study and experience before you can work as a site engineer. You can start working as a site engineer as soon as you finish your civil engineering degree. The degree normally takes 3- 4 years, and you might require 1 year of experience before you can work as a site engineer depending on the company and the project you are applying for.
What is the difference between A Project Engineer And An Engineer?
The engineer on site might be in charge of specific technical tasks by assisting workers in carryout their work. A project engineer oversees all site engineers and other engineers onsite and usually has the highest authority over all engineers.
What Is The Difference Between A Site Engineer & A Project Manager?
The site engineer is in charge of small scope onsite by solving ongoing problems onsite and managing a small team of workers. A project manager oversees the entire project from start to finish by managing a team of project engineers, supervisors and site engineers.
Site Engineer Vs Project Engineer: Which One Is For You?
If you want to work in the construction industry, then the goal is to aim to become a project engineer. Because project engineering is a more senior position than site engineers, they make more money, and they also have the chance to become project managers if they choose to.
In most cases, you will start as a site engineer and slowly work your way to becoming a project engineer. This process, on average, takes around 3 years for a site engineer to become a project engineer.
If you want to be part of the construction industry, there are other career options you can learn about here: 15 Civil Engineering Career Options. Insights, Salary & More.
