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The differences between contract 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 a contract designer and a mechanical designer. Additionally, a mechanical designer has an average salary of $62,541, which is higher than the $58,458 average annual salary of a contract designer.
The top three skills for a contract designer include assembly drawings, sketch and web banners. The most important skills for a mechanical designer are mechanical design, revit, and auto cad.
| Contract Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $58,458 | $62,541 |
| Hourly rate | $28.10 | $30.07 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 51,980 | 65,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The primary duty of a Contract Designer is to deliver creative strategies and design concepts that meet the objectives of the company's project. They work with members of the sales team and/or marketing designers.
A mechanical designer is responsible for designing mechanical equipment and devices, together with the engineers and other technology professionals. Mechanical designers create layouts following the clients' specifications, perform structural analysis, and analyze dimensions to ensure quality. They also inspect overall equipment performance and recommend adjustments as needed to improve its quality and boost optimization. Mechanical designers assist with installation and system upgrades, respond with the clients' inquiries and concerns, and escalate it to the appropriate personnel for resolution. A mechanical designer must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical and technology industry to build designs according to the highest standards.
Contract designers and mechanical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Contract Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Average salary | $58,458 | $62,541 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $86,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a contract designer and a mechanical designer in terms of educational background:
| Contract Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between contract designers' and mechanical designers' demographics:
| Contract Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.4% 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 Percentage | 5% | 5% |