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The differences between product development scientists and product design engineers 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 development scientist, becoming a product design engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a product design engineer has an average salary of $94,827, which is higher than the $84,817 average annual salary of a product development scientist.
The top three skills for a product development scientist include chemistry, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a product design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Product Development Scientist | Product Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $94,827 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $45.59 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 170,485 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A product development scientist is responsible for conducting in-depth scientific research and method analysis to develop medical technologies, medications, and foods, depending on the industry. Product development scientists may also perform enhancements on existing products by studying its components and improve its features. They evaluate the manufacturing processes of a product, providing recommendations on additional resources to generate revenues and profits. A product development scientist often works in a laboratory, requiring them to follow strict safety protocols and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the area to prevent contamination and result inconsistencies.
A Product Design Engineer designs new products that customers will want to purchase. They are responsible for designing, modeling, and testing prototypes for products.
Product development scientists and product design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Product Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $94,827 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $69,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a product design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Product Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and product design engineers' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Product Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.2% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |