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The differences between mechanical designers and systems designers 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 designer and a systems designer. Additionally, a systems designer has an average salary of $93,438, which is higher than the $62,541 average annual salary of a mechanical designer.
The top three skills for a mechanical designer include mechanical design, revit and auto cad. The most important skills for a systems designer are system design, CRM, and sales proposals.
| Mechanical Designer | Systems Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $62,541 | $93,438 |
| Hourly rate | $30.07 | $44.92 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 65,748 | 101,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical designer is responsible for designing mechanical equipment and devices, together with the engineers and other technology professionals. Mechanical designers create layouts following the clients' specifications, perform structural analysis, and analyze dimensions to ensure quality. They also inspect overall equipment performance and recommend adjustments as needed to improve its quality and boost optimization. Mechanical designers assist with installation and system upgrades, respond with the clients' inquiries and concerns, and escalate it to the appropriate personnel for resolution. A mechanical designer must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical and technology industry to build designs according to the highest standards.
In the information technology industry, a systems designer specializes in creating systems in adherence to the client or company's needs. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis, gathering and analyzing operational data and client feedback, subjecting designs in a variety of tests, coordinating with engineers, troubleshooting problems, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They may also assess existing systems and design enhancements as needed. Moreover, a systems designer may provide technical support and guidance to staff while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Mechanical designers and systems designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Designer | Systems Designer | |
| Average salary | $62,541 | $93,438 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $83,000 | Between $69,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a mechanical designer and a systems designer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Designer | Systems Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between mechanical designers' and systems designers' demographics:
| Mechanical Designer | Systems Designer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% | Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 16.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |