Mechanical engineering technologist vs mechanical engineer

The differences between mechanical engineering technologists and 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 engineering technologist and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, 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 engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.

Mechanical engineering technologist vs mechanical engineer overview

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Mechanical Engineer
Yearly salary	$57,409	$75,352
Hourly rate	$27.60	$36.23
Growth rate	3%	2%
Number of jobs	120,125	105,618
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age	45	41
Years of experience	6	6

What does a mechanical engineering technologist do?

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.

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.

Mechanical engineering technologist vs mechanical engineer salary

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

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Mechanical Engineer
Average salary	$57,409	$75,352
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $76,000	Between $58,000 And $97,000
Highest paying City	Santa Clara, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Washington
Best paying company	Apple	Meta
Best paying industry	Automotive	Energy

Differences between mechanical engineering technologist and mechanical engineer education

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

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Mechanical Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Northwestern University	Michigan Technological University

Mechanical engineering technologist vs mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between mechanical engineering technologists' and mechanical engineers' demographics:

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Mechanical Engineer
Average age	45	41
Gender ratio	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	5%

Differences between mechanical engineering technologist and mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Mechanical engineering technologist example responsibilities.

Manage and coordinate a company wide transition from 2D AutoCAD to a 3D modeling environment.
Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
Test, troubleshoot, disassemble and repair mechanical equipment supporting the U.S. navy's MK30 underwater target program.
Certify parts and write reports to the ASME, ASTM, and CSA standards.
Circuit design and PCB layout.
Design of assembly jigs and fixtures.

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

Mechanical engineering technologist vs mechanical engineer skills

Common mechanical engineering technologist skills

CAD, 8%
Solidworks, 7%
Prototype, 6%
Engineering Drawings, 5%
Hand Tools, 4%
Mechanical Systems, 4%

Common mechanical engineer skills

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

Mechanical Engineering Technologist vs. similar jobs

Mechanical Engineering Technologist related careers

Mechanical Engineering Technologist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Architecture and Engineering Industry
Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Mechanical Engineering Technologist vs Mechanical Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs