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The differences between acoustical engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an acoustical engineer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, an acoustical engineer has an average salary of $93,808, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for an acoustical engineer include transducers, data analysis and DSP. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Acoustical Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,808 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $45.10 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 74,331 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An acoustical engineer works primarily with sound; they reduce noise pollution in areas like construction sites and airports. Noise pollution is particularly hard to contain, which means an acoustical engineer is essential to manage the potential hazards of constant high-decibel sounds. Their job involves inspecting a location, determining the loudest areas, recommending measures to minimize noise pollution, and implementing all approved recommendations.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Acoustical engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acoustical Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,808 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $126,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an acoustical engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Acoustical Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between acoustical engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Acoustical Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 15.7% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |