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The differences between design checkers and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a design checker, becoming a design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design engineer has an average salary of $77,134, which is higher than the $75,126 average annual salary of a design checker.
The top three skills for a design checker include GD, engineering drawings and creo. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Design Checker | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,126 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $36.12 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 42,876 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A design checker takes responsibility for the examination of engineering drawings of installations, assemblies, and parts to ensure completeness and accuracy. Design checkers review the drawings to check the application of geometric tolerances, the appropriate manufacturing details, and the best drafting practices. They are tasked to detect discrepancies or errors within the 3D design documents. It is their duty to annotate necessary changes and communicate with colleagues on how to come up with a better design.
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Design checkers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Checker | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,126 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $111,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design checker and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Checker | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design checkers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Design Checker | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |