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The differences between mechanical development engineers and research and development 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 development engineer and a research and development engineer. Additionally, a research and development engineer has an average salary of $100,169, which is higher than the $91,933 average annual salary of a mechanical development engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical development engineer include CAD, solidworks and FEA. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,933 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $44.20 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 147,373 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical development engineer plans and designs tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. They perform duties such as overseeing the installation, operation, maintenance and repair of equipment and systems. They also produce specifications for new or modified systems. They supervise design engineering for a variety of facilities, and they coordinate the construction, assembly, and testing of equipment and systems.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Mechanical development engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,933 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $121,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a mechanical development engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical development engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 15.8% 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, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |