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The differences between mechanical engineering technologists and mechanical design 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 engineering technologist and a mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a mechanical design engineer has an average salary of $75,821, which is higher than the $57,409 average annual salary of a mechanical engineering technologist.
The top three skills for a mechanical engineering technologist include CAD, solidworks and prototype. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $57,409 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $27.60 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,125 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Mechanical Engineering Technologist is responsible for developing and assembling mechanical parts and components, following the head engineer's design specifications. They identify resources for manufacturing, ensuring that the deliverables follow the high-quality standards and requirements. They also analyze the design and recommend adjustments for outputs, if there are any. A Mechanical Engineering Technologist operates various mechanical tools and equipment to perform tasks efficiently, requiring strict adherence to the safety protocols and regulations within the operational premises.
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Mechanical engineering technologists and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $57,409 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $76,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a mechanical engineering technologist and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between mechanical engineering technologists' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 9.2% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |