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The differences between product development engineers and equipment 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 product development engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $86,075 average annual salary of a product development engineer.
The top three skills for a product development engineer include CAD, solidworks and product development. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Product Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,075 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $41.38 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 202,155 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.
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.
Product development engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,075 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $113,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a product development engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between product development engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Product Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 5% |