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The differences between continuous improvement engineers and continuous improvement managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a continuous improvement engineer, becoming a continuous improvement manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a continuous improvement manager has an average salary of $99,644, which is higher than the $78,918 average annual salary of a continuous improvement engineer.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement engineer include lean manufacturing, lean six sigma and continuous improvement. The most important skills for a continuous improvement manager are lean six sigma, sigma, and continuous improvement.
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $78,918 | $99,644 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $47.91 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 42,411 | 154,463 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
The duties of a continuous improvement engineer depend on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around developing systems to improve existing products or operations, coordinating with different teams to gather data, performing research and analysis, identifying areas needing improvement, and implementing new processes and systems. They may also address inquiries and concerns, responding to issues promptly and effectively. Furthermore, as a continuous improvement engineer, it is essential to build production systems in adherence to the company's policies and regulations.
A Continuous Improvement Manager initiates and facilitates lean improvement programs and activities. They ensure that progress is maintained on an ongoing basis.
Continuous improvement engineers and continuous improvement managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average salary | $78,918 | $99,644 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $103,000 | Between $74,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Woodland, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement engineer and a continuous improvement manager in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Industrial Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement engineers' and continuous improvement managers' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |