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The differences between mechanical development engineers and research 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 engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, 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 engineer are python, java, and software development.
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,933 | $96,945 |
| Hourly rate | $44.20 | $46.61 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 147,373 | 136,763 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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 Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
Mechanical development engineers and research engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,933 | $96,945 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $121,000 | Between $67,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a mechanical development engineer and a research engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical development engineers' and research engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Development Engineer | Research Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.3% Female, 10.7% | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% |
| 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, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |