Compare A Computer Hardware Engineer ↔ B Mechanical Design Drafter
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2 moves
No pay difference shown for this route: mechatronics Engineer: OEWS pay for an 'All Other' group; not specific to this occupation.
Gates on this route
- Move 1, to Mechatronics Engineer: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
- Move 2, to Mechanical Design Drafter: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Computer Hardware Engineer to Mechatronics Engineer
- O*NET lists Mechatronics Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Mechatronics Engineer to Mechanical Design Drafter
- O*NET lists Mechanical Drafters as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.91 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Side by side
All Mechanical Drafters: Texas median $79,380, $84,480 less a year than all Computer Hardware Engineers ($163,860), every experience level.
Computer Hardware Engineer: 76% work more than 40 hours a week, about 1.7 times the share for Mechanical Design Drafter (44%).
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates checked: No degree, license or hours gate on these moves in O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for each job.
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +17.4% Texas, 230 openings a year
B -0.4% Texas, 300 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
1.3 / 5+0.11.5 / 5
- Hazardous equipment+1.00Hazardous equipment: A 1.21, B 2.21
- Bending or twisting+0.45Bending or twisting: A 1.32, B 1.77
- Hazardous conditions-0.28Hazardous conditions: A 1.43, B 1.15
- Very hot or cold+0.24Very hot or cold: A 1.3, B 1.54
- High places+0.20High places: A 1.07, B 1.27
Degree
A Most people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher (O*NET: 93%).
B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 19% do).
License
A Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
B No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
Experience
A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 28%).
B Most common related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET: 30%).
Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5
You likely have: 6
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Analysis
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Mathematics
To build: 0
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Save Computer Hardware Engineer to Mechanical Design Drafter as your goal. Each step then shows the hours you have logged toward it, your exam practice and your license, with the one thing to do next. Free with an account.
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