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The differences between junior mechanical engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,855 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $33.58 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 87,397 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Junior mechanical engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,855 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $86,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Eaton | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a junior mechanical engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between junior mechanical engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Junior Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |