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The differences between junior process engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a junior process engineer, becoming a senior engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, 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 senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Junior Process Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $69,606 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $33.46 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 63,010 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Junior process engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Junior Process Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $69,606 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $91,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pasadena, TX | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Sargent & Lundy | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a junior process engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Junior Process Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between junior process engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Junior Process Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |