Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between machine designers and 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 designer and an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, which is higher than the $69,937 average annual salary of a machine designer.
The top three skills for a machine designer include solidworks, machine design and autocad. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Machine Designer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,937 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $33.62 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 81,897 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical designer creates and draws different designs for pieces of machinery and other equipment. They are often patterned with engineers and other related professionals to create a variety of types of machinery. Typically they work in an office setting, with the majority at architecture, manufacturing, and engineering firms. They may also be the person who develops and provides layout designs for customers and clients. A person who is creative, has a background in product development, and possesses analytic skills may be a great fit for the job.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Machine designers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Designer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,937 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $100,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Ana, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Energy Inc. | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a machine designer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Designer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between machine designers' and engineers' demographics:
| Machine Designer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 10.2% White, 71.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |