Junior mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer

The differences between junior mechanical engineers and senior 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 mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical engineer. Additionally, a senior mechanical engineer has an average salary of $103,836, 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 engineer are mechanical engineering, CAD, and solidworks.

Junior mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer overview

	Junior Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Yearly salary	$69,855	$103,836
Hourly rate	$33.58	$49.92
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	87,397	98,063
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	6	6

What does a junior mechanical engineer do?

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.

What does a senior mechanical engineer do?

A senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.

Junior mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer salary

Junior mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Junior Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average salary	$69,855	$103,836
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $86,000	Between $79,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Eaton	Google
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Energy

Differences between junior mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer education

There are a few differences between a junior mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:

	Junior Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Michigan Technological University	Michigan Technological University

Junior mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between junior mechanical engineers' and senior mechanical engineers' demographics:

	Junior Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1%	Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8%
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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.8% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between junior mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Junior mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Use of PLM software tools such as WindChill to manage data, revisions, iterations and approvals.
Design HVAC systems and plumbing layouts for various large and small-scale projects at different stages right from conceptual to implementation stage.
Implement ductwork into AutoCAD or REVIT models.
Review product drawings and program CNC machines according to the part designs.
Develop CNC programs for sheet metal flat patterns for a Mazak CNC laser.
Modify engineering documentations (BOM) to correlate with assembly methods and update issues.

Senior mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Create DFMEA documents to help manage risks and improve initial quality.
Set up and manage PCB manufacturing including all chemical baths, lasers, and exposure equipment.
Restructure VHDL code and chip/module hierarchy to achieve timing goals for the dual cache controller and the chip.
Achieve timely convergence of complex designs by building RTL models from validation area and integrating them, before official model release.
Lead FPGA development of key digital communication component used in successful demonstration of spacecraft radio link.
Provide mechanical design and sustaining engineering expertise to troubleshoot manufacturing defect trends and achieve a more robust and producible product.

Junior mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer skills

Common junior mechanical engineer skills

Mechanical Engineering, 16%
Solidworks, 14%
Mechanical Systems, 7%
HVAC, 4%
Mechanical Design, 4%
Prototype, 3%

Common senior mechanical engineer skills

Mechanical Engineering, 15%
CAD, 7%
Solidworks, 7%
Mechanical Design, 5%
Mechanical Systems, 5%
HVAC, 4%

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Junior Mechanical Engineer vs Senior Mechanical Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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