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The differences between engineering project specialists and process improvement engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an engineering project specialist, becoming a process improvement engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an engineering project specialist has an average salary of $107,780, which is higher than the $82,473 average annual salary of a process improvement engineer.
The top three skills for an engineering project specialist include project management, program management and BOM. The most important skills for a process improvement engineer are lean six sigma, sigma, and project management.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,780 | $82,473 |
| Hourly rate | $51.82 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 64,773 | 55,438 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
The primary role of an engineering project specialist is overseeing the project process until its completion. They are the ones who are in constant communication with the contractors, suppliers, and stakeholders, from accounting to inventory to deliveries and even to hiring new staff to increase the workforce, so that a project will be completed on time, with no missing parts, and with no fail. If a problem arises, engineering project specialists can troubleshoot and find a timely solution.
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.
Engineering project specialists and process improvement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engineering Project Specialist | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,780 | $82,473 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $164,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Farmington, CT | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engineering project specialist and a process improvement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between engineering project specialists' and process improvement engineers' demographics:
| Engineering Project Specialist | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 11.9% White, 71.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 9% | 4% |