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The differences between staff mechanical 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 staff mechanical engineer and an equipment engineer. Additionally, a staff mechanical engineer has an average salary of $108,997, which is higher than the $97,539 average annual salary of an equipment engineer.
The top three skills for a staff mechanical engineer include CAD, mechanical design and solidworks. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $108,997 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $52.40 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 158,987 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A staff mechanical engineer designs and develops engines, tools, and machinery. Staff mechanical engineers create products like refrigerators, power tools, car engines, and turbines. They take part in cross-departmental and multi-functional design teams. They write handbooks, bulletins, and reports for use by department or staff. They have to lead project management from making ideas to launching the product. The skills they need to know to include mechanical design, product development, electrical systems, and detail orientation.
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.
Staff mechanical engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $108,997 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $144,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a staff mechanical engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between staff mechanical engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 16.9% White, 67.5% 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% |