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The differences between cost engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a cost engineer, becoming a process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a cost engineer has an average salary of $87,901, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a cost engineer include project management, cost analysis and construction management. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Cost Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,901 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $42.26 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 65,278 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A cost engineer is responsible for projecting cost and expenses reports for the production process, identify and mitigate risks, and develop strategic techniques to reduce the excessive financial loss for project buildings. Cost engineers conduct data and statistical analysis to measure time deliverables and quality checks to ensure profitability and adherence to business objectives. They research and negotiate materials from trusted suppliers and vendors with high-quality products that would meet construction designs and client specifications.
A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.
Cost engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cost Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,901 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $120,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cost engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Cost Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between cost engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Cost Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 4% |