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The differences between mechatronics engineers and 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 mechatronics engineer and a design engineer. Additionally, a design engineer has an average salary of $77,134, which is higher than the $75,419 average annual salary of a mechatronics engineer.
The top three skills for a mechatronics engineer include mechatronics, python and solidworks. The most important skills for a design engineer are C++, UL, and project management.
| Mechatronics Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,419 | $77,134 |
| Hourly rate | $36.26 | $37.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 82,414 | 138,173 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A mechatronics engineer specializes in designing and developing mechanical systems to produce different products, ensuring quality and smooth workflow. They may also assess existing systems and implement improvements for optimal performance. Typically, a mechatronics engineer's responsibilities revolve around devising test structures to identify any vulnerabilities in the machines, performing regular maintenance checks to ensure safety and efficiency, and recommending solutions to improve other facilities. Furthermore, they may also conduct research and analysis, prepare progress reports and presentations, and participate in training new members of the workforce.
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
Mechatronics engineers and design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mechatronics Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,419 | $77,134 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $116,000 | Between $57,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a mechatronics engineer and a design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Mechatronics Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between mechatronics engineers' and design engineers' demographics:
| Mechatronics Engineer | Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |