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The differences between associate process engineers and quality engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a quality engineer has an average salary of $79,672, 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 quality engineer are corrective action, continuous improvement, and ISO.
| Associate Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $79,046 | $79,672 |
| Hourly rate | $38.00 | $38.30 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 57,344 | 96,838 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 quality engineer's responsibilities include ensuring that the manufacturing processes are efficient and accurate, documenting findings that would raise concerns, conducting quality tests while observing parameters, and implementing changes as necessary to meet the highest quality standards. Quality engineers need to have excellent problem-solving and observation skills to detect any irregularities and possible malfunctions. They also must be able to communicate effectively with the clients for feedbacks and corrective adjustments, address complaints, and immediately resolve any inconsistencies made.
Associate process engineers and quality engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average salary | $79,046 | $79,672 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $96,000 | Between $61,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tulsa, OK | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Washington |
| Best paying company | Tesoro | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an associate process engineer and a quality engineer in terms of educational background:
| Associate Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 quality engineers' demographics:
| Associate Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 13.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 4% |