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The differences between research engineers and 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 engineer and an engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a research engineer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,945 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 136,763 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Research Engineers are responsible for a wide range of duties, including researching and developing new technologies and prototypes, and finding solutions to improve techniques, procedures, and technologies.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Research engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,945 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $138,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a research engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between research engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Research Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |