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The differences between application engineers and manufacturing engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an application engineer, becoming a manufacturing engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an application engineer has an average salary of $92,921, which is higher than the $78,522 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for an application engineer include technical support, java and C++. The most important skills for a manufacturing engineer are lean manufacturing, CAD, and solidworks.
| Application Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,921 | $78,522 |
| Hourly rate | $44.67 | $37.75 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 111,338 | 115,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
An application engineer is responsible for creating and re-designing system applications based on clients' specifications and sales demands. Application engineers run diagnostic tests on software programs, identify areas of improvement, install necessary updates, upgrade optimization, revise system codes, and provide technical support for customers' needs. They also generate ideas and locate other business opportunities by analyzing current trends in the technology market that would help build revenues and increase profitability for the company. An application engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, software application processes, and general technology disciplines.
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
Application engineers and manufacturing engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Application Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,921 | $78,522 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $125,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Morgan Lewis | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an application engineer and a manufacturing engineer in terms of educational background:
| Application Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between application engineers' and manufacturing engineers' demographics:
| Application Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 11.5% White, 74.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 5% |