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The differences between plant engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a plant engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a plant engineer has an average salary of $93,949, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a plant engineer include HVAC, project management and plant operations. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Plant Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,949 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $45.17 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,391 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A Plant Engineer is responsible for directing the smooth operation of the plant. They plan and coordinate activities concerned with the design, construction, modification, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in an industrial plant.
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.
Plant engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,949 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $130,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plant engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plant engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Plant Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 8% | 5% |