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The differences between research engineers and equipment 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 equipment engineer. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $96,945 average annual salary of a research engineer.
The top three skills for a research engineer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,945 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 136,763 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Research engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,945 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $138,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Energy |
There are a few differences between a research engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| 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 equipment engineers' demographics:
| Research Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |