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The differences between lean six sigma black belts and production 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 production engineer. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, which is higher than the $88,305 average annual salary of a lean six sigma black belt.
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 production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,305 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $42.45 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,134 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| 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 production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Lean six sigma black belts and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,305 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $111,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Broomfield, CO | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lean six sigma black belt and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between lean six sigma black belts' and production engineers' demographics:
| Lean SIX Sigma Black Belt | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.9% Female, 27.1% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| 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, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |