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The differences between plastics engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $80,304 average annual salary of a plastics engineer.
The top three skills for a plastics engineer include sigma, project management and extrusion. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Plastics Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,304 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $38.61 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 47,267 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Plastics engineers must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree, and they will receive training opportunities that involve workshops and seminars to keep job skills current. This career requires skills in Sigma, project management, CAD, product quality, and product design. Those who choose this career path engage in manufacturing, fabrication, and end use testing of existing materials and the development of new processes, materials, and equipment.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Plastics engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plastics Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,304 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $106,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Union City, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Pfizer | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plastics engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plastics Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Plastics Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plastics engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Plastics Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 17.3% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |