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The differences between tool design engineers and mechanical design 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 tool design engineer and a mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a tool design engineer has an average salary of $76,918, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a tool design engineer include solidworks, jigs and GD. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Tool Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,918 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $36.98 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 114,478 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Tool Design Engineers are responsible for the design of new tools as well as making improvements to existing ones. They are responsible for drafting schematics and blueprints, determining tool specifications and production as well as carrying out calculations to establish tools cost, materials, and dimensions. Other duties include communicating with suppliers to implement tool modifications, tracking performance targets, and conducting cost budgeting. A good Tool Design Engineer aims to reduce tool breakdowns and minimize maintenance costs.
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Tool design engineers and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tool Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,918 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $102,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a tool design engineer and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Tool Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between tool design engineers' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Tool Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |