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The differences between lean six sigma black belts and process 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 lean six sigma black belt and a process engineer. Additionally, a lean six sigma black belt has an average salary of $88,305, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a lean six sigma black belt include lean six sigma, six sigma training and lean sigma. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,305 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $42.45 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,134 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Lead Six Sigma Black Belt specializes in designing and developing tools and systems to optimize company operations. Their responsibilities include applying principles in addressing and resolving issues and concerns, conducting research and analysis to understand the needs of the company and its projects, and developing strategies to optimize the workflow and workforce performance. Moreover, they provide technical advice to managers and staff, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.
Lean six sigma black belts and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,305 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $111,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Broomfield, CO | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lean six sigma black belt and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between lean six sigma black belts' and process engineers' demographics:
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 11.5% White, 68.0% 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, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |