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The differences between engineering planners and production engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an engineering planner and a production engineer. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, which is higher than the $71,606 average annual salary of an engineering planner.
The top three skills for an engineering planner include metrics, engineering drawings and powerpoint. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Engineering Planner | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,606 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $34.43 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 74,212 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The engineering planner works together with other engineering staff involved in the project to design and work on the project's timeframe while also working on the work schedules of staff. They sometimes become the mediator between on-site engineers and office officials' communication. They keep records of daily and monthly project progress. On-site, they are responsible for observing any discrepancies and recording them for reporting. They work with managers and supervisors at the office to process communication to contractors and subcontractors and allocate budgets meticulously.
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Engineering planners and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Planner | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,606 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $103,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reston, VA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Zoox | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engineering planner and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Planner | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between engineering planners' and production engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Planner | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 10.3% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |