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The differences between design engineering managers and lead design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a design engineering manager, becoming a lead design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a design engineering manager has an average salary of $143,603, which is higher than the $108,490 average annual salary of a lead design engineer.
The top three skills for a design engineering manager include CAD, project management and aided design. The most important skills for a lead design engineer are CAD, project management, and lead design.
| Design Engineering Manager | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $143,603 | $108,490 |
| Hourly rate | $69.04 | $52.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 102,491 | 118,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A design engineering manager is in charge of overseeing engineering projects and managing a team of design engineers, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is their duty to ensure that projects adhere to the budgets and schedules, set objectives and guidelines, organize staff schedules, liaise with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, and develop designs according to the project's needs and the clients' preferences. They must also handle issues and concerns, resolving them in a prompt and efficient manner.
A Lead Design Engineer produces design solutions that can be purchased, installed, and commissioned effectively. They are also responsible for the cost-effectiviness and safety of new designs.
Design engineering managers and lead design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Engineering Manager | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $143,603 | $108,490 |
| Salary range | Between $104,000 And $197,000 | Between $82,000 And $143,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Agriculture |
There are a few differences between a design engineering manager and a lead design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Engineering Manager | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design engineering managers' and lead design engineers' demographics:
| Design Engineering Manager | Lead Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.1% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 15.5% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |