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The differences between manufacturing development 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 development engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing development engineer has an average salary of $77,888, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing development engineer include R, medical devices and sigma. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Manufacturing Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,888 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $37.45 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 105,577 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A manufacturing development engineer works to improve the process of making products. The responsibilities of this position are repairing equipment used in manufacturing, purchasing and installing manufacturing equipment, designing new procedures and systems, diagnosing problems with machinery, supervising other engineering and technical staff, and managing the budget for the development engineering staff. They are also responsible for designing, creating, and testing new products. This position requires a mechanical engineering or bioengineering degree.
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 development engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,888 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $105,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Lumileds | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing development engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | 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 development engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 12.9% White, 67.0% 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% |