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The differences between materials research 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 $87,100 average annual salary of a materials research engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Materials Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A materials research engineer researches, processes, and develops test materials used to create a wide range of products. They must be good in analytical, mechanical, and math skills. They are likely to perform in their role such as formulating their own project concepts, executing technology projects about the development of novel polymer fiber-reinforced composites, and identifying unknown material compositions. Also, they implement powder processing equipment and manufacture tools to improve their efficiency and quality.
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.
Materials research engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Nike | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research 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 materials research engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | 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, 66.4% 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% |