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The differences between manufacturing engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a manufacturing engineer, becoming an equipment engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $78,522 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing engineer include lean manufacturing, CAD and solidworks. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Manufacturing Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,522 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $37.75 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 115,384 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Manufacturing engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $78,522 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $102,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Meta | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |