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The differences between advanced engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an advanced engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an advanced engineer has an average salary of $85,139, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for an advanced engineer include C++, python and MATLAB. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Advanced Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,139 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $40.93 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 63,830 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
The duties of an advanced engineer primarily depend on their place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify project requirements, conceptualizing plans, designing and developing systems, establishing guidelines and goals, and creating strategies to optimize operations. They may also assess existing systems to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, an advanced engineer typically oversees staff performance and progress, all while enforcing the company's safety standards and regulations.
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.
Advanced engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advanced Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,139 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $104,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Energy |
There are a few differences between an advanced engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Advanced Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between advanced engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Advanced Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.2% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |