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The differences between hardware design engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hardware design engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a hardware design engineer has an average salary of $106,135, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a hardware design engineer include RF, PCB and analog. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Hardware Design Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,135 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $51.03 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 69,000 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A hardware design engineer is an individual who develops, improves, and test components and systems for computers and other devices. Hardware design engineers must develop and design hardware components, such as circuit boards, switches, and networking elements. They are required to examine technological specifications and functional requirements as well as design components and systems that will deliver the expected performance. Hardware design engineers are also involved with manufacturing hardware, and they work closely with software engineers and developers during the development cycle.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Hardware design engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Design Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,135 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $139,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bothell, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a hardware design engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Design Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hardware design engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Hardware Design Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 50.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |