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The differences between machine designers and lead 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 a lead engineer. Additionally, a lead engineer has an average salary of $84,927, 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 a lead engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Machine Designer | Lead Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,937 | $84,927 |
| Hourly rate | $33.62 | $40.83 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 81,897 | 301,777 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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.
A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.
Machine designers and lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Designer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,937 | $84,927 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $100,000 | Between $60,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Ana, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Energy Inc. | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a machine designer and a lead engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Designer | Lead Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between machine designers' and lead engineers' demographics:
| Machine Designer | Lead Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |