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The differences between stress engineers and mechanical engineering technologists 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 engineering technologist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, which is higher than the $57,409 average annual salary of a mechanical engineering technologist.
The top three skills for a stress engineer include finite element analysis, structural analysis and autocad. The most important skills for a mechanical engineering technologist are CAD, solidworks, and prototype.
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineering Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $107,036 | $57,409 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $27.60 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,117 | 120,125 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| 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.
A Mechanical Engineering Technologist is responsible for developing and assembling mechanical parts and components, following the head engineer's design specifications. They identify resources for manufacturing, ensuring that the deliverables follow the high-quality standards and requirements. They also analyze the design and recommend adjustments for outputs, if there are any. A Mechanical Engineering Technologist operates various mechanical tools and equipment to perform tasks efficiently, requiring strict adherence to the safety protocols and regulations within the operational premises.
Stress engineers and mechanical engineering technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineering Technologist | |
| Average salary | $107,036 | $57,409 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $156,000 | Between $43,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | CTS | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a stress engineer and a mechanical engineering technologist in terms of educational background:
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineering Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between stress engineers' and mechanical engineering technologists' demographics:
| Stress Engineer | Mechanical Engineering Technologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 9.2% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |