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The differences between manufacturing associate 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 manufacturing associate engineer and an industrial engineer. Additionally, an industrial engineer has an average salary of $76,501, which is higher than the $74,120 average annual salary of a manufacturing associate engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing associate engineer include process control, CAD and continuous improvement. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $74,120 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $35.63 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 59,464 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An associate manufacturing engineer is in charge of creating methods and strategies to optimize the design and development of manufacturing procedures, typically working alongside manufacturing engineers. Among their responsibilities include performing research and analysis, establishing guidelines and specifications, monitoring the budgets and processes, conducting maintenance checks, and keeping an active communication line with team members for a smooth and efficient workflow. Furthermore, an associate manufacturing engineer must promote and enforce the company's safety policies and regulations.
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.
Manufacturing associate engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $74,120 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $90,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mahwah, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Masimo | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing associate engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing associate engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Associate Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.7% Female, 16.3% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 12.2% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 4% |