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The differences between machine design engineers and product 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 machine design engineer and a product engineer. Additionally, a product engineer has an average salary of $89,645, which is higher than the $79,371 average annual salary of a machine design engineer.
The top three skills for a machine design engineer include solidworks, project management and FEA. The most important skills for a product engineer are CAD, product design, and project management.
| Machine Design Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,371 | $89,645 |
| Hourly rate | $38.16 | $43.10 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 136,423 | 157,888 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A machine design engineer specializes in designing and developing machines, tools, and engines for different industries. Their duties include identifying and understanding project requirements, creating blueprints and prototypes, selecting ideal resources, establishing and implementing test plans, facilitating upgrades, and setting protocols and standards. They also enhance existing machines by identifying their strengths and weaknesses and providing solutions against potential issues. Additionally, a machine design engineer usually works in a team environment, which requires an open communication line for efficient workflow.
A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public. Moreover, they are also responsible for producing reports and presentations, coordinating with the development team of their company. Product engineers also reach out to vendors and suppliers for the raw materials, set regulations and standards for the product, and even conduct a rigorous and regular quality check.
Machine design engineers and product engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Design Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,371 | $89,645 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $108,000 | Between $68,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a machine design engineer and a product engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Design Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between machine design engineers' and product engineers' demographics:
| Machine Design Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.0% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |