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The differences between professional engineers 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 professional engineer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a professional engineer has an average salary of $86,348, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a professional engineer include civil engineering, project management and PE. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Professional Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,348 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $41.51 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 74,009 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A professional engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and structures through different principles. Although their duties will vary upon their industry of employment, it typically includes performing site assessments and examinations, studying the purpose and goals of the project, developing plans and guidelines, monitoring the progress of operations, and resolving issues and concerns promptly and efficiently. They may work together with architects and senior engineers, liaise with clients or contractors, and perform regular site inspections. Furthermore, a professional engineer must implement safety protocols and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
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.
Professional engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,348 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $118,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bayer | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Energy |
There are a few differences between a professional engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Professional Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between professional engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Professional Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 12.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |