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The differences between research engineers and mechanical design 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 a mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a research engineer has an average salary of $96,945, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a research engineer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Research Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,945 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $46.61 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 136,763 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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.
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Research engineers and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Research Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,945 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $138,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a research engineer and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Research Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Research Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |