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The differences between material engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $86,258 average annual salary of a material engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Material Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Materials engineers are responsible for developing, processing, and testing materials used to create a wide variety of products. These professionals study and evaluate the properties and structure of different materials, including plastics, metal, ceramics, and composites, to create new products. They also perform other tasks that include providing technical advice on suitable materials, diagnosing faults, and providing advice on planning and conducting inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Additionally, they may also oversee the work of other scientists like technicians and evaluate the technical and economic factors surrounding the design aspects of products.
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.
Material engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Apple | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% 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 | 10% | 5% |