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The differences between plumbing designers 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 plumbing designer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $61,468 average annual salary of a plumbing designer.
The top three skills for a plumbing designer include revit, plumbing and fire protection. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Plumbing Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,468 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $29.55 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 44,975 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Plumbing Designers are responsible for developing plumbing and drainage systems for residential or commercial areas. Their duties include providing design specifications to clients, producing schematics, achieving key performance metrics, and conducting quality assurance assessments. They contribute technical content for marketing purposes, sourcing equipment, and guiding internal departments on installation procedures. Plumbing Designers also prepare client proposals, supervise junior staff, and provide staff training sessions.
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.
Plumbing designers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plumbing Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $61,468 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $85,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | Belcan | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Energy |
There are a few differences between a plumbing designer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plumbing Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between plumbing designers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Plumbing Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% 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% |