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The differences between aircraft engineers and mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an aircraft engineer, becoming a mechanic takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an aircraft engineer has an average salary of $72,867, which is higher than the $47,149 average annual salary of a mechanic.
The top three skills for an aircraft engineer include DOD, aircraft systems and CAD. The most important skills for a mechanic are hand tools, preventive maintenance, and customer service.
| Aircraft Engineer | Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $72,867 | $47,149 |
| Hourly rate | $35.03 | $22.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 5,718 | 100,534 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
An aircraft engineer oversees the design and assembly of an aircraft. Broadly, they are responsible for developing aircraft designs, testing and fine-tuning them, and ensuring safe practices during the assembly process. Specifically, this involves providing design drafts, meeting with executives to get feedback, and working in an engineering team to improve designs. They must consider aerodynamic principles, air safety, passenger comfort, and customer. This position requires an advanced degree and strong experience in the aviation field.
Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.
Aircraft engineers and mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Engineer | Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $72,867 | $47,149 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $99,000 | Between $35,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Joby Aviation | Anheuser-Busch |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an aircraft engineer and a mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Engineer | Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between aircraft engineers' and mechanics' demographics:
| Aircraft Engineer | Mechanic | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.8% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 2% |