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The differences between continuous improvement engineers and industrial engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a continuous improvement engineer and an industrial engineer. Additionally, a continuous improvement engineer has an average salary of $78,918, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement engineer include lean manufacturing, lean six sigma and continuous improvement. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,918 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $37.94 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 42,411 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
An industrial engineer specializes in devising various systems to improve the workflow and the workforce in a manufacturing setting. One of their primary responsibilities is to understand all of the procedures in a manufacturing plant and develop strategies to resolve issues or improve production operations, such as designing a cost-efficient machine or system that will enhance the quality of goods and boost the productivity of workers. Moreover, it is also essential to adhere to all the company's policies and safety regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment for all employees.
Continuous improvement engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $78,918 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $103,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Woodland, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Industrial Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 12.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |