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The differences between laser engineers and industrial 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 laser engineer and an industrial engineer. Additionally, a laser engineer has an average salary of $85,319, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a laser engineer include MATLAB, data collection and labview. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Laser Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $85,319 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $41.02 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,901 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A laser engineer is one who specializes in making and developing laser devices or machines that is for laser purposes. They supervises the laser team in operating and ensuring that all laser-related equipment is functioning well. They can also specialize in doing advanced optics or optic devices. Their responsibilities include the regular monitoring and optimization of laser outputs as well as finding out a reasonable solution on how to handles laser issues that will be arising.
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.
Laser engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Laser Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $85,319 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $116,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Redwood City, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Booz Allen Hamilton | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a laser engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Laser Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Physics | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between laser engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Laser Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 18.0% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |