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The differences between plastics engineers and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plastics engineer has an average salary of $80,304, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a plastics engineer include sigma, project management and extrusion. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Plastics Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $80,304 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $38.61 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 47,267 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
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.
Plastics engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plastics Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $80,304 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $106,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Union City, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Washington |
| Best paying company | Pfizer | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plastics engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plastics Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Plastics Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |