Mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer

The differences between mechanical engineers and senior mechanical 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 senior mechanical engineer. Additionally, a senior mechanical engineer has an average salary of $103,836, 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 a senior mechanical engineer are mechanical engineering, CAD, and solidworks.

Mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer overview

	Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Yearly salary	$75,352	$103,836
Hourly rate	$36.23	$49.92
Growth rate	2%	2%
Number of jobs	105,618	98,063
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	6	6

What does a mechanical engineer do?

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.

What does a senior mechanical engineer do?

A senior mechanical engineer is responsible for designing and improving mechanical equipment, as well as industrial devices and machinery. Senior mechanical engineers verify the materials and resources, ensuring that the processes meet the budget goals from clients' specifications and requirements. They also monitor the manufacturing process, developing strategic procedures for operations improvement, and maximizing staff productivity. A senior mechanical engineer runs multiple diagnostic tests to guarantee the stability and efficiency of the item and coordinating with the client for any plan adjustments as needed.

Mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer salary

Mechanical engineers and senior mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average salary	$75,352	$103,836
Salary range	Between $58,000 And $97,000	Between $79,000 And $136,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	Meta	Google
Best paying industry	Energy	Energy

Differences between mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer education

There are a few differences between a mechanical engineer and a senior mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:

	Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Michigan Technological University	Michigan Technological University

Mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between mechanical engineers' and senior mechanical engineers' demographics:

	Mechanical Engineer	Senior Mechanical Engineer
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%	Male, 94.2% Female, 5.8%
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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 15.8% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	5%	5%

Differences between mechanical engineer and senior mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Manage machine shop and Sr. Machinist/Toolmaker.
Lead the implementation of Syteline MRP software.
Manage component work orders and failure test scheduling to parts as per DFMEA with design team.
Use of PLM software tools such as WindChill to manage data, revisions, iterations and approvals.
Lead a brainstorming session for review with supplier & management and follow through the successful implementation of a corrective action.
Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad

Senior mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

Create DFMEA documents to help manage risks and improve initial quality.
Set up and manage PCB manufacturing including all chemical baths, lasers, and exposure equipment.
Restructure VHDL code and chip/module hierarchy to achieve timing goals for the dual cache controller and the chip.
Achieve timely convergence of complex designs by building RTL models from validation area and integrating them, before official model release.
Lead FPGA development of key digital communication component used in successful demonstration of spacecraft radio link.
Provide mechanical design and sustaining engineering expertise to troubleshoot manufacturing defect trends and achieve a more robust and producible product.

Mechanical engineer vs senior mechanical engineer skills

Common mechanical engineer skills

CAD, 10%
Solidworks, 9%
Mechanical Systems, 6%
Mechanical Design, 5%
HVAC, 5%
Plumbing, 4%

Common senior mechanical engineer skills

Mechanical Engineering, 15%
CAD, 7%
Solidworks, 7%
Mechanical Design, 5%
Mechanical Systems, 5%
HVAC, 4%

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Mechanical Engineer vs Senior Mechanical Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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