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Job outlook for prototype engineer managers in the United States
Are prototype engineer manager jobs in demand?
Prototype engineer manager job and salary trends over time
Prototype engineer manager jobs over time
Prototype engineer manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 371 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 388 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 385 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 373 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 357 | 0.00% |
Average prototype engineer manager salary over time
Prototype engineer manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $116,329 | $55.93 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $112,673 | $54.17 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $109,506 | $52.65 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $107,141 | $51.51 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $104,815 | $50.39 | +1.5% |
Prototype engineer manager jobs by state
Most common states for prototype engineer managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 191 | 28% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 738 | 10% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 756 | 9% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 594 | 9% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 84 | 9% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,031 | 8% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 431 | 8% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 317 | 8% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 429 | 7% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 75 | 6% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 293 | 5% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 170 | 5% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 93 | 5% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 32 | 5% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 767 | 4% |
| 16 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 543 | 4% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 444 | 4% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 270 | 4% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 138 | 4% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 63 | 4% |
Most common cities for prototype engineer managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino | 3 | 5% | $142,357 |
| 2 | Allen Park | 1 | 4% | $103,797 |
| 3 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $94,130 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $100,843 |
| 5 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $110,155 |
| 6 | East Palo Alto | 1 | 3% | $142,544 |
| 7 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $103,287 |
| 8 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $121,506 |
| 9 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $103,664 |
| 10 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $116,955 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $110,955 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $106,896 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $122,006 |
| 14 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $121,852 |
| 15 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $111,339 |
| 16 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $98,152 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $112,828 |
| 18 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $111,463 |
Prototype Engineer Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of prototype engineer manager experts
Pennsylvania State University - Abington
University of Maryland - College Park
Ohio University
Kettering University
University of Utah
California State University - Sacramento
University of Pittsburgh
What Prototype Engineer Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yi Yang PhD: In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.
Donald Yeung
Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education, Affiliate Professor, Computer Science DepartmentUniversity of Maryland - College Park
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
What skills stand out on Prototype Engineer Manager resumes?
Donald Yeung: A degree at a highly rated engineering school is always a plus. For example, the ECE dept at UMD has a good reputation among local employers as well as employers elsewhere, such as Silicon Valley. Many of our students go to companies in these areas, and so we have a reputation based on the quality of students that go out. I think employers know what they're getting. Beyond the school from which you receive your degree, your GPA is also important. How well you do in the program you come from is important, too, obviously. And employers also know about grade inflation or deflation at different schools, so they can calibrate any student's GPA against what experience they've had with previous students' records. Besides that, employers also look for experience outside of the degree program, so internships, research experiences, any significant project experience, etc., are also a real plus.
What technical skills for a Prototype Engineer Manager stand out to employers?
Robert Williams Ph.D.: Modeling, simulation, CAD software; problem solving; design based on analysis and experiment; computer skills; the ability to learn new software.
What technical skills for a Prototype Engineer Manager stand out to employers?
Patrick Atkinson: Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Prototype Engineer Manager job market given the pandemic?
Bruce Gale Ph.D.: As automation, information sharing, and software continue to become more important in response to the pandemic, engineers with programming skills will become ever more valuable. As a corollary, there is significant interest in increasing automation in factories, which will lead to additional opportunities in systems engineering for complex tools.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Prototype Engineer Managers?
Bruce Gale Ph.D.: Any engineering degree is a good one. Adding certifications related to software is a big plus. A systems certificate is important to large government contractors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Prototype Engineer Manager job market given the pandemic?
Steven Fernandez: No sure, with respect to mechanical engineering there is so many variables as to what new trends ME grads can experience. One of the greatest challenges Mechanical Engineering students face is the broadness of the field of study they have chosen. Surprisingly, many ME grads find themselves at a bit of a loss as to what carrier path to choose when they finally get their degree. As a mechanical engineer you can be designing anything from a supersonic missile, to a food processing line, in multiple functions. Mechanical engineers can be project engineers, design engineers, operation engineers, or manufacturing engineers with all options in just one industrial field. Each industrial field is affected differently by the pandemic. Take Space X, Google, Amazon, and Raytheon which are all industries ME's work in. These company seem to be doing the same if not better during the pandemic. How about the bicycle industry? With more families at home looking for activities there is a backlog of bicycles as the manufacturers cannot keep up with the orders. Try and order a NordicTrack treadmill, or a concept-2 rowing machine and you will be put on a waiting list due to the shortage of supply. Mechanical engineers work in all these industries. On the flip side look at some industries tied to travel and vacation. Yes, Boeing took a hit because of their 737 planes being grounded, but also because of the massive decrease in flight travel. So, all that said, I would say the pandemic trend for now would follow the course as such; industries which are negatively affected due to the loss of public activities will continue to struggle or have slow growth, while other industries where the mass public has been redirected will flourish and grow.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Prototype Engineer Managers?
Matthew Barry Ph.D.: I foresee that the pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on graduates, namely on their education and interpersonal skills, both current and future. We are currently seeing that almost all of collegiate instruction can be administered remotely, and not just in a non-interactive format, but in a way that promotes students' interaction and engagement with the material, which is typically not seen in a traditional classroom. With a rapid transition to online learning via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous mechanisms, and with the adoption and adaptation of many recent pedagogies, many students are experiencing a revolution in learning that they would not have been a part of within a traditional classroom. There are many pros and cons associated with online learning, but for the most part, many of the practices instituted have been for the betterment of the students, and have had positive impacts on their learning. Many have been receiving better educational instruction through the use of flipped class formats or a combination of pre-recorded and live instruction, through the use of various online learning platforms (Top Hat, WileyPlus, etc.) that allow for interaction typically not encountered in a conventional classroom, and through a robust peer support network hosted on platforms such as Slack. The opportunities students have missed out on by not being in the classroom, such as participating in clubs or utilizing Makerspaces, have been replaced with online laboratories. Additionally, students often have latitude in regards to when they learn via asynchronous instruction, and benefit from the structure of synchronous instruction. Moving forward, many instructors, departments, and institutions will see what has worked well, and what has not, and make informed decisions about modifications to methods and curriculums that most benefit the students. And through all of this, the students have gained first-hand experience about what it is like to be part of a global workforce, where most everything is currently done online.
What experience really stands out on Prototype Engineer Manager resumes?
Matthew Barry Ph.D.: What really stands out on a resume to me is anything related to hands-on experience. I honestly prefer students and potential employees that have hands-on experience and ok grade point averages (GPAs) compared to students with high GPAs and no hands-on experience. And this hands-on experience does not have to come from internships or co-ops, but could be the result of participating in clubs, or being part of a Makerspace, either as a mentor, or a user.