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The differences between manufacturing associate 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 manufacturing associate 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 $74,120 average annual salary of a manufacturing associate engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing associate engineer include process control, CAD and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,120 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $35.63 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 59,464 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An associate manufacturing engineer is in charge of creating methods and strategies to optimize the design and development of manufacturing procedures, typically working alongside manufacturing engineers. Among their responsibilities include performing research and analysis, establishing guidelines and specifications, monitoring the budgets and processes, conducting maintenance checks, and keeping an active communication line with team members for a smooth and efficient workflow. Furthermore, an associate manufacturing engineer must promote and enforce the company's safety policies and regulations.
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.
Manufacturing associate engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,120 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $90,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mahwah, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Masimo | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing associate engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing associate engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 12.2% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |