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The differences between junior engineers and mechanical 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 engineer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $70,653 average annual salary of a junior engineer.
The top three skills for a junior engineer include control systems, java and C++. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Junior Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $70,653 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $33.97 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 107,703 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Junior Engineer helps design, build, or maintain engines, machines, or public works. They work under the supervision of an engineer.
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.
Junior engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $70,653 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $54,000 And $91,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a junior engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between junior engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Junior Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 5% |