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The differences between continuous improvement leaders and process improvement engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a continuous improvement leader, becoming a process improvement engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a continuous improvement leader has an average salary of $85,851, which is higher than the $82,473 average annual salary of a process improvement engineer.
The top three skills for a continuous improvement leader include lean six sigma, sigma and process improvement. The most important skills for a process improvement engineer are lean six sigma, sigma, and project management.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,851 | $82,473 |
| Hourly rate | $41.27 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 35,627 | 55,438 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A continuous improvement leader is an individual who is responsible for measuring and testing procedures to improve production efficiency in a company. Continuous improvement leaders must work closely with human resources employees or trainers so that they can develop a curriculum to bring hires to their peak efficiency quickly. They are required to improve processes and systems in the company as well as implement programs that have continuing long-term benefits. Continuous improvement leaders must also supervise and direct the work of staff members of the CI department.
A process improvement engineer specializes in conducting research and analysis to develop new strategies and ideas to improve the processes in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting. They prioritize efficiency and profitability. Most of the time, engineers participate in a series of meetings where they coordinate with fellow engineers to determine opportunities for product growth and development. Moreover, a process improvement engineer is also responsible for crafting new policies and regulations, upgrading systems, and developing new practices to ensure product quality and customer satisfaction.
Continuous improvement leaders and process improvement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,851 | $82,473 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $115,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fall River, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a continuous improvement leader and a process improvement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between continuous improvement leaders' and process improvement engineers' demographics:
| Continuous Improvement Leader | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average age | 46 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 4% |