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The differences between mechanical design engineers and senior design engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a mechanical design engineer and a senior design engineer. Additionally, a senior design engineer has an average salary of $104,698, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical design engineer include CAD, mechanical design and GD. The most important skills for a senior design engineer are CAD, project management, and RF.
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,821 | $104,698 |
| Hourly rate | $36.45 | $50.34 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,258 | 127,035 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
A senior design engineer is responsible for creating mechanical and electrical designs for machines and systems, following clients' specifications and business guidelines. Senior design engineers also assist junior design engineers with their tasks, sharing best practices and techniques, and suggesting adjustments as needed. They also oversee the manufacturing process, inspect possible inconsistencies, and revise plans without exceeding the agreed budget or compromising the quality. A senior design engineer must be keen with details and highly organizational, especially on meeting deadlines with the highest client satisfaction.
Mechanical design engineers and senior design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,821 | $104,698 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $96,000 | Between $80,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a mechanical design engineer and a senior design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between mechanical design engineers' and senior design engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Senior Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% | Male, 91.8% Female, 8.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |