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The differences between mechanical engineers and aerospace engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a mechanical engineer, becoming an aerospace engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an aerospace engineer has an average salary of $100,401, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical engineer include CAD, solidworks and mechanical systems. The most important skills for an aerospace engineer are C++, DOD, and FAA.
| Mechanical Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,352 | $100,401 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $48.27 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 105,618 | 42,086 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
An aerospace engineer specializes in designing, maintaining, and repairing aircraft and spacecraft. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting tests and procedures to identify faults and inconsistencies, lead production processes, performing repairs and improvements, designing systems, and ensuring that all equipment complies with the safety regulations and standards. They are also responsible for producing technical materials such as reports, proposals, and manuals. Furthermore, there are instances where they must set the policies and standards on the equipment they are developing while utilizing their expertise in mathematics, engineering, and sciences.
Mechanical engineers and aerospace engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,352 | $100,401 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $97,000 | Between $71,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Arizona |
| Best paying company | Meta | Thrush Aircraft |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a mechanical engineer and an aerospace engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Aerospace Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical engineers' and aerospace engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Engineer | Aerospace Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |