Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between associate process engineers and production engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, which is higher than the $79,046 average annual salary of an associate process engineer.
The top three skills for an associate process engineer include process engineering, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Associate Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,046 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $38.00 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 57,344 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
An associate process engineer specializes in designing and developing machinery and equipment to optimize business processes and operations. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the existing production processes, devising strategies for optimal performance, and coordinating with the workforce for further analysis. An associate process engineer may also install and repair equipment, test new systems, and conduct regular maintenance checks to maintain a safe and productive work environment for everyone.
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Associate process engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,046 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $96,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tulsa, OK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Tesoro | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an associate process engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between associate process engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Associate Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 4% |