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The differences between mechanical design drafters and mechanical 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 mechanical design drafter, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $58,371 average annual salary of a mechanical design drafter.
The top three skills for a mechanical design drafter include design layouts, creo and assembly drawings. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $58,371 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $28.06 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 54,189 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Mechanical design drafter develops detailed mechanical equipment designs and specifications needed for assembly and modifies them to repair defects and to minimize problems in the production. He/she often works with architects and engineers either in an office or via job sites with hands-on experience in computer-aided design (CAD) software and building processes, visual aptitude, and mathematical skills. However, the demand for drafters tempered as CAD and building information modeling (BIM) technologies allows architects and engineers to perform tasks that are usually done by a mechanical design drafter.
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.
Mechanical design drafters and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $58,371 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $75,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Salt River Project | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a mechanical design drafter and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between mechanical design drafters' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Design Drafter | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 5% |