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The differences between machine design engineers and senior design 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 senior design engineer. Additionally, a senior design engineer has an average salary of $104,698, 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 senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Machine Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,371 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $38.16 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 136,423 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Machine design engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,371 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $108,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a machine design engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 senior design engineers' demographics:
| Machine Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| 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, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |