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The differences between design manufacturing engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a design manufacturing engineer and a project engineer. Additionally, a design manufacturing engineer has an average salary of $102,492, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a design manufacturing engineer include CNC, continuous improvement and GD. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,492 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $49.27 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 127,555 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A design manufacturing engineer specializes in designing and developing manufacturing systems and equipment. They primarily conduct research and analyses, develop drafts and prototypes, set and implement test systems, troubleshoot issues, and maintain extensive records. They may also assess existing systems to identify their weaknesses and strengths, fix or repair components, perform adjustments, and provide technical support to staff as necessary. Moreover, a design manufacturing engineer empowers staff to reach goals and implements safety standards and policies for a safe and productive work environment.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Design manufacturing engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $102,492 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $147,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a design manufacturing engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between design manufacturing engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Design Manufacturing Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 69.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |