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The differences between marine engineers and research and development engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a marine engineer, becoming a research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a marine engineer has an average salary of $101,152, which is higher than the $100,169 average annual salary of a research and development engineer.
The top three skills for a marine engineer include marine engineering, autocad and HVAC. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Marine Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $101,152 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $48.63 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 11,675 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | 3.33 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Marine engineers are licensed engineers who specialize in designing marine infrastructure. These marine infrastructure or vessels are usually naval ships, sailboats, cruise ships, tankers, or even submarines. Marine engineers draft plans for these vessels. They take into consideration the various sciences involved in building these ships. Marine engineers need to have a good grasp of physics, statistics, and other sciences that they need to craft a vessel. Marine engineers also create designs for controls and other mechanisms. They oversee the building process and ensure that the vessels are working properly.
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.
Marine engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Marine Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $101,152 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $147,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Rafael, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | California |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a marine engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Marine Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Marine Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between marine engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Marine Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 7% | 5% |