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The differences between staff mechanical engineers and project 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 a project engineer. Additionally, a staff mechanical engineer has an average salary of $108,997, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a staff mechanical engineer include CAD, mechanical design and solidworks. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $108,997 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $52.40 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 158,987 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Staff mechanical engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $108,997 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $82,000 And $144,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a staff mechanical engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Project 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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between staff mechanical engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Staff Mechanical Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |