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The differences between material engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material engineer has an average salary of $86,258, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Material Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Material engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 5% |