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The differences between stress engineers and research and development 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 research and development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, which is higher than the $100,169 average annual salary of a research and development engineer.
The top three skills for a stress engineer include finite element analysis, structural analysis and autocad. The most important skills for a research and development engineer are python, R, and solidworks.
| Stress Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,036 | $100,169 |
| Hourly rate | $51.46 | $48.16 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 36,117 | 187,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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.
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
Stress engineers and research and development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stress Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,036 | $100,169 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $156,000 | Between $74,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | CTS | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a stress engineer and a research and development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Stress Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between stress engineers' and research and development engineers' demographics:
| Stress Engineer | Research And Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% | Male, 85.2% Female, 14.8% |
| 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, 16.7% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |