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The differences between junior design engineers and research engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a junior design engineer and a research engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, which is higher than the $59,383 average annual salary of a junior design engineer.
The top three skills for a junior design engineer include engineering drawings, solidworks and auto cad. The most important skills for a research engineer are python, java, and software development.
| Junior Design Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $59,383 | $96,945 |
| Hourly rate | $28.55 | $46.61 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 122,180 | 136,763 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Junior Design Engineers are responsible for providing design assistance and administrative engineering support for an organization. Their duties include designing 3-dimensional models and prototypes, producing detailed drawings, assisting in tender proposal submissions, and documentation for product compliance. They are responsible for managing product literature and crib sheets and generating bills of material (BOM). Junior design engineers also assist in defining product specifications and liaise with stakeholders to obtain design approval. They must possess knowledge in using design software such as AutoCAD, Visualize, and Solidworks.
Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
Junior design engineers and research engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Design Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average salary | $59,383 | $96,945 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $67,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Micron Technology | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a junior design engineer and a research engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Design Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between junior design engineers' and research engineers' demographics:
| Junior Design Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |