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The differences between mechanical engineers and civil 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 engineer and a civil engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $70,950 average annual salary of a civil engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical engineer include CAD, solidworks and mechanical systems. The most important skills for a civil engineer are civil 3d, engineering design, and cost estimates.
| Mechanical Engineer | Civil Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,352 | $70,950 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $34.11 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 105,618 | 26,803 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.
Mechanical engineers and civil engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Engineer | Civil Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,352 | $70,950 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $97,000 | Between $51,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Construction |
There are a few differences between a mechanical engineer and a civil engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Engineer | Civil Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between mechanical engineers' and civil engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Engineer | Civil Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |