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The differences between junior process engineers and process improvement engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a junior process engineer and a process improvement engineer. Additionally, a process improvement engineer has an average salary of $82,473, which is higher than the $69,606 average annual salary of a junior process engineer.
The top three skills for a junior process engineer include p id, lean manufacturing and sigma. The most important skills for a process improvement engineer are lean six sigma, sigma, and project management.
| Junior Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,606 | $82,473 |
| Hourly rate | $33.46 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 63,010 | 55,438 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Typically working in the manufacturing industry, a junior process engineer is in charge of designing and developing procedures to optimize manufacturing operations. Among their responsibilities include understanding and identifying the needs of the company, gathering and analyzing data, developing prototypes and test structures, managing budgets and timelines, and producing regular progress reports. They may also assess existing systems and procedures, recommending solutions against problem areas. Furthermore, as a junior process engineer, it is essential to provide support to staff while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Junior process engineers and process improvement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,606 | $82,473 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $91,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, TX | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Sargent & Lundy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a junior process engineer and a process improvement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between junior process engineers' and process improvement engineers' demographics:
| Junior Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.1% White, 66.0% 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 | 4% | 4% |