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The differences between mechanical systems engineers 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 systems engineer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a mechanical systems engineer has an average salary of $85,387, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a mechanical systems engineer include mechanical systems, CAD and system design. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,387 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $41.05 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 158,980 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
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 systems engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,387 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Energy |
There are a few differences between a mechanical systems engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 engineers' demographics:
| Mechanical Systems Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |