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The differences between mechanical design engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,821 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $36.45 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,258 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Mechanical design engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,821 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $96,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a mechanical design engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical design engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |