Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between field engineers and process 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 field 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 $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for a field engineer include customer service, customer satisfaction and project management. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Field Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,874 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $34.55 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 86,015 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
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.
Field engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,874 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $99,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a field engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Field Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between field engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Field Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% 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% |