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The differences between research and development engineers and staff 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 research and development engineer and a staff engineer. Additionally, a staff engineer has an average salary of $107,530, which is higher than the $100,169 average annual salary of a research and development engineer.
The top three skills for a research and development engineer include python, R and solidworks. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Research And Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $100,169 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $48.16 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 187,910 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Research and development engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research And Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $100,169 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $135,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a research and development engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research And Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between research and development engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Research And Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |