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The differences between project engineer interns and mechanical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a project engineer internship, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a mechanical engineer has an average salary of $75,352, which is higher than the $40,356 average annual salary of a project engineer internship.
The top three skills for a project engineer internship include project management, powerpoint and RFI. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Project Engineer Internship | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $40,356 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $19.40 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | - | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 69,593 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 6 |
When it comes to a project engineer internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to follow the directives of engineers and managers while earning practical experience. Most of the duties will revolve around processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, participating in various projects, assisting engineers in basic tasks, and organizing inventory and supplies. There may also be instances when an intern may take part in presentations and attend meetings. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with supervising managers while adhering to all rules.
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 engineer interns and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer Internship | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $40,356 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project engineer internship and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer Internship | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between project engineer interns' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer Internship | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.7% Female, 41.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.4% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 5% |