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Automotive designer vs mechanical designer

The differences between automotive designers and mechanical designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an automotive designer and a mechanical designer. Additionally, an automotive designer has an average salary of $69,782, which is higher than the $62,541 average annual salary of a mechanical designer.

The top three skills for an automotive designer include industrial design, sketch and powertrain. The most important skills for a mechanical designer are mechanical design, revit, and auto cad.

Automotive designer vs mechanical designer overview

Automotive DesignerMechanical Designer
Yearly salary$69,782$62,541
Hourly rate$33.55$30.07
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs76,80665,748
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 51%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

Automotive designer vs mechanical designer salary

Automotive designers and mechanical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Automotive DesignerMechanical Designer
Average salary$69,782$62,541
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $108,000Between $46,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityBelmont, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryAutomotiveEnergy

Differences between automotive designer and mechanical designer education

There are a few differences between an automotive designer and a mechanical designer in terms of educational background:

Automotive DesignerMechanical Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 51%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringDrafting And Design
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityCarnegie Mellon University

Automotive designer vs mechanical designer demographics

Here are the differences between automotive designers' and mechanical designers' demographics:

Automotive DesignerMechanical Designer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 80.2% Female, 19.8%Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 70.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between automotive designer and mechanical designer duties and responsibilities

Automotive designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage documentation of existing projects, perform ECN resolutions.
  • Design of brackets and torsion bar components are validated using FEA inSolidworks.
  • Designate as group training mentor during transition from CADAM to Unigraphics V9.
  • Complete several fully fillet and draft angle solid models on Unigraphics for direct manufacturing.
  • Perform mechanical engineering design for facilities including calculate building HVAC requirements to ensure adequate capacity of system air flow.
  • Release drawings and BOMs in PDM/Link Windchill.
  • Show more

Mechanical designer example responsibilities.

  • Work with JPL / NASA packaging and fabrication engineering leads (on-site).
  • Manage documentation of existing projects, perform ECN resolutions.
  • Produce REVIT models for the mechanical department o HVAC sheet metal and HVAC piping.
  • Develop company's AutoCAD customize menu, prepare cad department logistics, organize and staff cad department.
  • Apply mechanical engineering design and manufacturing expertise to develop MR and XR medical imaging devices utilizing AutoCAD.
  • Experience with ASME and ANSI codes.
  • Show more

Automotive designer vs mechanical designer skills

Common automotive designer skills
  • Industrial Design, 24%
  • Sketch, 19%
  • Powertrain, 13%
  • FEA, 11%
  • Cost Reduction, 9%
  • Catia V5, 8%
Common mechanical designer skills
  • Mechanical Design, 8%
  • Revit, 7%
  • Auto CAD, 6%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • Engineering Drawings, 4%
  • Creo, 4%

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