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The differences between design technicians and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a design technician, 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 $62,288 average annual salary of a design technician.
The top three skills for a design technician include revit, civil 3d and aided design. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Design Technician | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $62,288 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $29.95 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 48,394 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 6 |
A design technician's role revolves around conducting extensive research and analysis to determine a company's needs. The technician will develop system plans and collaborate with fellow technicians and engineers. There are also instances where a design technician has to craft presentations and hand in proposals, revising them when necessary. Furthermore, a design technician must produce progress reports, abide by managers' directions, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
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 technicians and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Technician | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $62,288 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $104,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design technician and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Technician | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between design technicians' and design engineers' demographics:
| Design Technician | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |