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The differences between industrial engineers and planning 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 industrial engineer and a planning engineer. Additionally, a planning engineer has an average salary of $82,521, 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 planning engineer are project management, infrastructure, and transmission planning.
| Industrial Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,501 | $82,521 |
| Hourly rate | $36.78 | $39.67 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 46,756 | 56,792 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 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 planning engineer is in charge of developing plans and systems to organize and schedule project procedures, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities revolve around learning and understanding the extent of all operations, setting schedules and objectives, liaising with external parties such as vendors or distributors, and maintaining an active communication line with other departments. Furthermore, a planning engineer must monitor the progress of the workflow and the performance of the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Industrial engineers and planning engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,501 | $82,521 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $61,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an industrial engineer and a planning engineer in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Industrial Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between industrial engineers' and planning engineers' demographics:
| Industrial Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |