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The differences between industrial engineers and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, 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 project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.
| Industrial Engineer | Project Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $76,501 | $91,578 |
| Hourly rate | $36.78 | $44.03 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 46,756 | 167,116 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.17 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 47 |
| 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.
Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.
Industrial engineers and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Engineer | Project Manager | |
| Average salary | $76,501 | $91,578 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $97,000 | Between $64,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an industrial engineer and a project manager in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Engineer | Project Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Industrial Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between industrial engineers' and project managers' demographics:
| Industrial Engineer | Project Manager | |
| Average age | 42 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% | Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1% |
| 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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |