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The differences between mechanical engineers and structures 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 structures engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $73,391 average annual salary of a structures engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical engineer include CAD, solidworks and mechanical systems. The most important skills for a structures engineer are structural analysis, revit, and RISA.
| Mechanical Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,352 | $73,391 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $35.28 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 105,618 | 20,778 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| 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 structures engineer works in designing, planning, and overseeing the development of the latest buildings and bridges or modifications and extensions to an existing property or other structures. They are mainly concerned with the safety and capability of the structure to withstand the elements to which they will be exposed--also improving the existing building structural integrity. Part of the task is inspecting properties regarding the conditions/foundation and checking work undertaken by contractors. The job is very similarly related to a civil engineer.
Mechanical engineers and structures engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,352 | $73,391 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $97,000 | Between $54,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a mechanical engineer and a structures engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between mechanical engineers' and structures engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Engineer | Structures Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1% |
| 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, 3.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 17.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |