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The differences between engineers and design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an engineer and a design engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $77,134 average annual salary of a design engineer.
The top three skills for an engineer include python, cloud and C++. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,077 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $44.27 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 618,207 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.33 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
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.
Engineers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,077 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $130,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Huntsville, AL | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Fort Bend County | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engineer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between engineers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 5% |