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The differences between machine designers and mechanical 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 mechanical engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, 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 mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Machine Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,937 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $33.62 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 81,897 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Machine designers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,937 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $100,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Ana, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Energy Inc. | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a machine designer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Machine Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |