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The differences between industrial engineers and chemical engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemical engineer has an average salary of $89,449, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for an industrial engineer include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and sigma. The most important skills for a chemical engineer are chemistry, technical support, and co-op.
| Industrial Engineer | Chemical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,501 | $89,449 |
| Hourly rate | $36.78 | $43.00 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 46,756 | 42,176 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
An industrial engineer specializes in devising various systems to improve the workflow and the workforce in a manufacturing setting. One of their primary responsibilities is to understand all of the procedures in a manufacturing plant and develop strategies to resolve issues or improve production operations, such as designing a cost-efficient machine or system that will enhance the quality of goods and boost the productivity of workers. Moreover, it is also essential to adhere to all the company's policies and safety regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment for all employees.
A chemical engineer provides support for chemical operations and testing new processes. The processes they successfully come up with are used to make different products from gas, oil, food, and drink. It is their job to assist in designing new chemical processes and make improvements. They implement fresh ideas to improve standard quality and efficiency. They must be good planners and schedulers of project activities to help chemical technicians to achieve their project objectives and provide technical support to maintain safe, stable, and reliable operations.
Industrial engineers and chemical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Engineer | Chemical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,501 | $89,449 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $67,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Sugar Land, TX |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Texas |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an industrial engineer and a chemical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Engineer | Chemical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Industrial Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between industrial engineers' and chemical engineers' demographics:
| Industrial Engineer | Chemical Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% | Male, 74.1% Female, 25.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 12.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 21.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 9% |