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The differences between manufacturing test engineers and research and development 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 a research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, which is higher than the $98,285 average annual salary of a manufacturing test engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing test engineer include test equipment, labview and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,285 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $47.25 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 64,188 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Manufacturing test engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,285 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $134,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing test engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between manufacturing test engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |