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The differences between mechanical systems engineers 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 systems engineer and a mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a mechanical systems engineer has an average salary of $85,387, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical systems engineer include mechanical systems, CAD and system design. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,387 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $41.05 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 158,980 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechanical systems engineer is responsible for designing tools and equipment, overseeing manufacturing processes, and running quality checks on the products to ensure adherence to business requirements and guidelines. Mechanical systems engineers analyze blueprints and specifications to recommend cost-reduction techniques and materials for production. They also inspect the operating systems and performance of equipment, resolving machinery failures, and modifying designs to improve feasibility. A mechanical systems engineer must have excellent technical and organizational skills, especially on researching current trends to identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits.
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 systems engineers and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,387 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a mechanical systems engineer and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between mechanical systems engineers' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 12.8% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 5% |