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The differences between senior project engineers 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 project engineer and a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a senior project engineer has an average salary of $97,803, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a senior project engineer include project management, construction management and CAD. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Senior Project Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,803 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $47.02 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 146,838 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior project engineer is responsible for monitoring the project team's overall process and operations from conceptualization until completion, ensuring the adherence to the clients' specifications, within the budget's goals, and the required deadline. Senior project engineers regularly communicate with the client regarding updates or necessary adjustments. They develop strategic procedures to finish the project efficiently by running diagnostic tests and troubleshooting discrepancies. A senior project engineer must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the team's performance and provide assistance when necessary.
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 project engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Project Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,803 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $77,000 And $124,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a senior project engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Project Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between senior project engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Senior Project Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.0% 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 Percentage | 5% | 5% |