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The differences between industrial designers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an industrial designer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $63,384 average annual salary of an industrial designer.
The top three skills for an industrial designer include industrial design, solidworks and CAD. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Industrial Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $63,384 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $30.47 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 54,012 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Industrial Designers work with clients to conceptualize product ideas. They collaborate with clients in creating product blueprints, samples, and mock-ups. Industrial Designers create drafts based on the clients' ideas, keeping in mind the different requirements as well as aesthetic qualities that the clients envision. They usually specialize in a specific product category such as toys, furniture, and cars, among others. Industrial Designers also collaborate with other professionals such as manufacturers, materials experts, safety experts, and other product makers to ensure the feasibility and the product safety of the concepts they come up with.
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.
Industrial designers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $63,384 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $92,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an industrial designer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between industrial designers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Industrial Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% 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 | 8% | 5% |