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The differences between maintenance engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a maintenance engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $47,133 average annual salary of a maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for a maintenance engineer include plumbing, HVAC and guest rooms. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Maintenance Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $47,133 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $22.66 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 97,957 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
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.
Maintenance engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $47,133 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $74,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Halliburton | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a maintenance engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between maintenance engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Maintenance Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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 | 2% | 5% |