Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between associate mechanical engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Associate Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,432 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $34.34 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 75,091 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Associate mechanical engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,432 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $89,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Industries | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an associate mechanical engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between associate mechanical engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Associate Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |