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Senior piping designer vs mechanical engineer

The differences between senior piping designers and mechanical 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 senior piping designer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a senior piping designer has an average salary of $130,020, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.

The top three skills for a senior piping designer include autocad, equipment layout and refinery. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.

Senior piping designer vs mechanical engineer overview

Senior Piping DesignerMechanical Engineer
Yearly salary$130,020$75,352
Hourly rate$62.51$36.23
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs65,865105,618
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does a senior piping designer do?

A Senior Piping Designer is responsible for the scoping and technical execution of the piping design. They manage and supervise all aspects and details of the piping design.

What does a mechanical engineer do?

Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.

Senior piping designer vs mechanical engineer salary

Senior piping designers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Piping DesignerMechanical Engineer
Average salary$130,020$75,352
Salary rangeBetween $94,000 And $179,000Between $58,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityBellevue, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyAmec Foster WheelerMeta
Best paying industryEnergyEnergy

Differences between senior piping designer and mechanical engineer education

There are a few differences between a senior piping designer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:

Senior Piping DesignerMechanical Engineer
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common majorDrafting And DesignMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityMichigan Technological University

Senior piping designer vs mechanical engineer demographics

Here are the differences between senior piping designers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:

Senior Piping DesignerMechanical Engineer
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 93.8% Female, 6.2%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between senior piping designer and mechanical engineer duties and responsibilities

Senior piping designer example responsibilities.

  • Work with JPL / NASA packaging and fabrication engineering leads (on-site).
  • Perform field surveys, prepare piping plans & sections, fabrication and construction ISO's and BOM's.
  • Fabricate steel platforms, column, ladders and stairs associate with containment tanks, pipe racks and pumps.
  • Animate NAVISWORKS models to help clarify maintenance clearances.
  • Train and provide support to new designers in PDMS.
  • Convert 3D model to a NAVISWORKS model for client model review.
  • Show more

Mechanical engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage machine shop and Sr. Machinist/Toolmaker.
  • Lead the implementation of Syteline MRP software.
  • Manage component work orders and failure test scheduling to parts as per DFMEA with design team.
  • Use of PLM software tools such as WindChill to manage data, revisions, iterations and approvals.
  • Lead a brainstorming session for review with supplier & management and follow through the successful implementation of a corrective action.
  • Attain SolidWorks CSWP certification and maintaining proficiency within CREO & AutoCad
  • Show more

Senior piping designer vs mechanical engineer skills

Common senior piping designer skills
  • Autocad, 18%
  • Equipment Layout, 12%
  • Refinery, 6%
  • Navisworks, 5%
  • ISO, 5%
  • CADWorx, 5%
Common mechanical engineer skills
  • CAD, 10%
  • Solidworks, 9%
  • Mechanical Systems, 6%
  • Mechanical Design, 5%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • Plumbing, 4%

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