Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between design 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 design engineer, becoming a process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a process engineer has an average salary of $82,443, which is higher than the $77,134 average annual salary of a design engineer.
The top three skills for a design engineer include C++, UL and project management. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Design Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,134 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $37.08 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 138,173 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A design engineer is responsible for creating systems and applications based on their expertise. Design engineers work through client specifications based on business needs. A design engineer also provides recommendations on improving existing systems to boost its performance and increase efficiency. Design engineers must have an excellent command of computer systems, programming codes, and technical data to ensure the system's stability and high-quality processes. A design engineer should also have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks and meet deadlines.
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.
Design engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Design Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,134 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $102,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a design engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Design Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between design engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Design Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 4% |