Associate mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer

The differences between associate mechanical engineers and senior 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 associate mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical engineer. Additionally, a senior mechanical engineer has an average salary of $103,836, which is higher than the $71,432 average annual salary of an associate mechanical engineer.

The top three skills for an associate mechanical engineer include CAD, mechanical design and solidworks. The most important skills for a senior mechanical engineer are mechanical engineering, CAD, and solidworks.

Associate mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer overview

	Associate Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Yearly salary	$71,432	$103,836
Hourly rate	$34.34	$49.92
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	75,091	98,063
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	6	6

What does an associate mechanical engineer do?

Associate Mechanical Engineers are usually entry-level mechanical engineers hired by the company. They help design and conceptualize mechanical assets, construct and install mechanical parts, and repair mechanical problems in the different machines they work with. Associate Mechanical Engineers should be licensed with specialized knowledge of the different activities involved in the role. They ensure that the model they are making is working properly. They also help out in operating machines and other mechanical equipment needed by the company. They are expected to know the science behind the different machines and the machinations at play.

What does a senior mechanical engineer do?

A senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.

Associate mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer salary

Associate mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Associate Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average salary	$71,432	$103,836
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $89,000	Between $79,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Koch Industries	Google
Best paying industry	Automotive	Energy

Differences between associate mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer education

There are a few differences between an associate mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:

	Associate Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Michigan Technological University	Michigan Technological University

Associate mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between associate mechanical engineers' and senior mechanical engineers' demographics:

	Associate Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2%	Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 15.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.8% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between associate mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Associate mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad
Participate in FMEA s and recommend design improvements.
Document and confirm risk management activities (DFMEA & PFMEA).
Create tolerance stacks, risk assessments and DFMEA, used results to improve designs.
Design, create, and correct assign manufacturing drawings and solid models with the use of SolidWorks.
Design in accordance with both commercial and military standards and include cost management preparation and reporting per full DoD requirements.

Senior mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Create DFMEA documents to help manage risks and improve initial quality.
Set up and manage PCB manufacturing including all chemical baths, lasers, and exposure equipment.
Restructure VHDL code and chip/module hierarchy to achieve timing goals for the dual cache controller and the chip.
Achieve timely convergence of complex designs by building RTL models from validation area and integrating them, before official model release.
Lead FPGA development of key digital communication component used in successful demonstration of spacecraft radio link.
Provide mechanical design and sustaining engineering expertise to troubleshoot manufacturing defect trends and achieve a more robust and producible product.

Associate mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer skills

Common associate mechanical engineer skills

CAD, 14%
Mechanical Design, 7%
Solidworks, 6%
Mechanical Systems, 6%
Engineering Design, 4%
FEA, 4%

Common senior mechanical engineer skills

Mechanical Engineering, 15%
CAD, 7%
Solidworks, 7%
Mechanical Design, 5%
Mechanical Systems, 5%
HVAC, 4%

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Associate Mechanical Engineer vs Senior Mechanical Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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