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The differences between machine designers and project 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 project engineer. Additionally, a project engineer has an average salary of $75,050, 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 project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Machine Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,937 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $33.62 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 81,897 | 176,689 |
| 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.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Machine designers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Machine Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,937 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $100,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Ana, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Energy Inc. | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a machine designer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Machine Designer | Project 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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between machine designers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Machine Designer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |