Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between manufacturing test engineers and 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 test engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing test engineer has an average salary of $98,285, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing test engineer include test equipment, labview and troubleshoot. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,285 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $47.25 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,188 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A manufacturing test engineer specializes in designing and developing test structures to ensure the quality of products according to the company's policies and standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with the design team to determine test parameters, producing test documentation, troubleshooting, and performing quality assurance procedures. A manufacturing test engineer must also assess the existing test procedures to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions as needed. Furthermore, they may assist the quality assurance teams in conducting tests, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Manufacturing test engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,285 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $134,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Meta | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing test engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing test engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |