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The differences between engineering project coordinators and mechanical design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an engineering project coordinator, becoming a mechanical design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical design engineer has an average salary of $75,821, which is higher than the $73,371 average annual salary of an engineering project coordinator.
The top three skills for an engineering project coordinator include project management, shop drawings and powerpoint. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Engineering Project Coordinator | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $73,371 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $35.27 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 112,985 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
An engineering project coordinator works with project managers and specialists to ensure that all aspects of the project are carried out and cared for. They make sure that work is done according to schedule, the staff is doing their job per timeframe, the budget is allocated for, and expenditures are accounted for. They must also have good communication skills to report to stakeholders and heads proficiently. They are also involved in project meetings and propose improvements.
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Engineering project coordinators and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Project Coordinator | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $73,371 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $101,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an engineering project coordinator and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Project Coordinator | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between engineering project coordinators' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Project Coordinator | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.8% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 5% |