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The differences between junior mechanical engineers and senior mechanical designers 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 mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical designer. Additionally, a senior mechanical designer has an average salary of $103,765, which is higher than the $69,855 average annual salary of a junior mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a junior mechanical engineer include mechanical engineering, solidworks and mechanical systems. The most important skills for a senior mechanical designer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Senior Mechanical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,855 | $103,765 |
| Hourly rate | $33.58 | $49.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 87,397 | 71,958 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A junior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing tools and equipment under the supervision of a senior mechanical engineer. Junior mechanical engineers assist in building project plans with the whole team from its conceptualization to final deliverables, following client specifications and business requirements according to budget limitations and deadlines. They also submit precise measurements, including the cost of materials and schematics. A junior mechanical engineer must have excellent technical, mechanical, and analytical skills, especially on writing detailed progress reports and adjust design plans as needed.
A Senior Mechanical Designer is responsible for creating effective mechanical designs for their company and developing mechanical concepts in accordance with project requirements. They assist the engineering manager in coaching other mechanical engineers to develop design skills.
Junior mechanical engineers and senior mechanical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Senior Mechanical Designer | |
| Average salary | $69,855 | $103,765 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $86,000 | Between $81,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Eaton | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a junior mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical designer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Senior Mechanical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between junior mechanical engineers' and senior mechanical designers' demographics:
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Senior Mechanical Designer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 11.4% White, 71.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |