Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between mechanical engineers and staff 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 staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, 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 staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,352 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 105,618 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Mechanical engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,352 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $97,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a mechanical engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between mechanical engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |