Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between simulation engineers and product engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a simulation engineer, becoming a product engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a simulation engineer has an average salary of $97,266, which is higher than the $89,645 average annual salary of a product engineer.
The top three skills for a simulation engineer include python, MATLAB and simulink. The most important skills for a product engineer are CAD, product design, and project management.
| Simulation Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,266 | $89,645 |
| Hourly rate | $46.76 | $43.10 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 46,570 | 157,888 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A simulation engineer is an engineering professional who uses technical expertise and knowledge of computer simulation technologies to test the performance, durability, and safety of engineering solutions. Simulation engineers must use a virtual environment when working on an incredibly intricate and expensive project such as a new helicopter, satellite, or submarine. They use computer programming languages such as C++ and Fortran to model simulated environment. Simulation engineers are also required to collaborate with the design and production teams so that they can accomplish a specific project.
A product engineer specializes in designing and developing commercial materials and services. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis of the latest trends and marketing conditions to come up with new ideas and products for the public. Moreover, they are also responsible for producing reports and presentations, coordinating with the development team of their company. Product engineers also reach out to vendors and suppliers for the raw materials, set regulations and standards for the product, and even conduct a rigorous and regular quality check.
Simulation engineers and product engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Simulation Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,266 | $89,645 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $133,000 | Between $68,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a simulation engineer and a product engineer in terms of educational background:
| Simulation Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between simulation engineers' and product engineers' demographics:
| Simulation Engineer | Product Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 16.4% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.0% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |