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The differences between manufacturing controls engineers 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 manufacturing controls engineer and a process engineer. Additionally, a manufacturing controls engineer has an average salary of $96,327, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing controls engineer include PLC, CNC and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,327 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $46.31 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 51,699 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing controls engineer ensures the manufacturing process of a plant is run efficiently and complies with all safety standards. Their role is to develop equipment to monitor and control efficiency of engineering systems and machinery, implement processes that will help manufacturers increase productivity, conduct research, test and analyze designs, and monitor the strategies implemented to ensure functionality. This position requires an engineering degree.
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.
Manufacturing controls engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,327 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $125,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | JUUL | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing controls engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing controls engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 10.1% White, 69.1% 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% |