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The differences between project development engineers and mechanical 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 project development engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a project development engineer has an average salary of $85,059, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a project development engineer include renewable energy, project management and cost estimates. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Project Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,059 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $40.89 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 120,300 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A project development engineer designs and develops projects according to the client or company's goals and requirements. They typically perform extensive research and analysis, establish prototypes and test structures, coordinate with fellow experts, and study existing projects to identify their strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions against problem areas. They may also provide technical guidance and support to staff, train junior engineers, and develop strategies to optimize project operations. Moreover, a project development engineer must maintain an active communication line with teams while enforcing safety policies and project regulations.
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.
Project development engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,059 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $110,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project development engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between project development engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Project Development Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.5% Female, 15.5% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 13.7% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 5% |