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The differences between aerodynamics engineers and production engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an aerodynamics engineer and a production engineer. Additionally, an aerodynamics engineer has an average salary of $99,629, which is higher than the $89,727 average annual salary of a production engineer.
The top three skills for an aerodynamics engineer include aerospace, MATLAB and computational fluid dynamics. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,629 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $47.90 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 20,152 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An aerodynamics engineer is an aerodynamics expert who specializes in designing and developing aircraft components and systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. Among their responsibilities include conducting extensive research and analysis, developing prototypes and test structures, coordinating with experts, obtaining certifications, and complying with all the aviation laws and regulations. They may also gather and analyze data of existing systems and equipment to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, an aerodynamics engineer must perform regular maintenance checks and assessments while maintaining an active communication line with staff.
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Aerodynamics engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,629 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $142,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Gulfstream Aerospace | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an aerodynamics engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between aerodynamics engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Aerodynamics Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 13.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |