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The differences between stress engineers and mechanical 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 stress engineer, becoming a mechanical engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a stress engineer include finite element analysis, structural analysis and autocad. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,036 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 36,117 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A stress engineer specializes in conducting analysis and assessments on structures and components, mainly using stress to test its structural integrity. They may work in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and even medical. Although their duties may vary upon the industry, they are typically in charge of performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with architects and engineers, designing and building prototypes, and maintaining records of all procedures. Furthermore, a stress engineer must produce detailed progress and findings reports in adherence to project deadlines and company policies.
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.
Stress engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,036 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $156,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | CTS | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Energy |
There are a few differences between a stress engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between stress engineers' and mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 19.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 8% | 5% |