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The differences between product designers and mechanical designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a product designer, becoming a mechanical designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a product designer has an average salary of $102,033, which is higher than the $62,541 average annual salary of a mechanical designer.
The top three skills for a product designer include sketch, visual design and UI. The most important skills for a mechanical designer are mechanical design, revit, and auto cad.
| Product Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,033 | $62,541 |
| Hourly rate | $49.05 | $30.07 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 98,465 | 65,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A product designer's key responsibilities are to perform design research, selecting the best materials, and develop user storyboards for the client and users' best interest. Product designers usually work with a whole design team, documenting suggestions to deliver high-quality outputs or improve existing products to match the market trends. They must also communicate with other skilled professionals to enhance their ideas and consult clients for any necessary adjustments that would affect the total user experience. A product designer should also have extensive knowledge of the consumer's preference to make the design more appealing and engaging.
A mechanical designer is responsible for designing mechanical equipment and devices, together with the engineers and other technology professionals. Mechanical designers create layouts following the clients' specifications, perform structural analysis, and analyze dimensions to ensure quality. They also inspect overall equipment performance and recommend adjustments as needed to improve its quality and boost optimization. Mechanical designers assist with installation and system upgrades, respond with the clients' inquiries and concerns, and escalate it to the appropriate personnel for resolution. A mechanical designer must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical and technology industry to build designs according to the highest standards.
Product designers and mechanical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Average salary | $102,033 | $62,541 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $152,000 | Between $46,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a product designer and a mechanical designer in terms of educational background:
| Product Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between product designers' and mechanical designers' demographics:
| Product Designer | Mechanical Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.5% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |