Mechanical engineering technologist vs research engineer

The differences between mechanical engineering technologists and research 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 research engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, 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 research engineer are python, java, and software development.

Mechanical engineering technologist vs research engineer overview

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Research Engineer
Yearly salary	$57,409	$96,945
Hourly rate	$27.60	$46.61
Growth rate	3%	2%
Number of jobs	120,125	136,763
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
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 research engineer do?

Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.

Mechanical engineering technologist vs research engineer salary

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

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Research Engineer
Average salary	$57,409	$96,945
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $76,000	Between $67,000 And $138,000
Highest paying City	Santa Clara, CA	Menlo Park, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	Apple	The Citadel
Best paying industry	Automotive	Start-up

Differences between mechanical engineering technologist and research engineer education

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

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Research Engineer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	Northwestern University	Georgia Institute of Technology

Mechanical engineering technologist vs research engineer demographics

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

	Mechanical Engineering Technologist	Research Engineer
Average age	45	41
Gender ratio	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%
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, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	5%

Differences between mechanical engineering technologist and research 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.

Research engineer example responsibilities.

Lead and organize the whole system debugging, test, and integration.
Prepare research proposals for the synthesis of small molecules to attain designate department goals.
Lead a team of software QA test engineers in the prioritization and assignment of tasks and the solving of technical problems.
Develop several LabVIEW applications used for data acquisition and logging.
Balance multiple embed system design and prototyping projects relate to jet engine diagnostics and prognostics.
Utilize high dexterity to assemble fuel cell hardware.

Mechanical engineering technologist vs research engineer skills

Common mechanical engineering technologist skills

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

Common research engineer skills

Python, 18%
Java, 6%
Software Development, 5%
C, 4%
C++, 4%
Data Analysis, 4%

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Mechanical Engineering Technologist
Mechanical Engineering Technologist vs Research Engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

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