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The differences between manufacturing engineers and industrial engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a manufacturing engineer, becoming an industrial engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a manufacturing engineer has an average salary of $78,522, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing engineer include lean manufacturing, CAD and solidworks. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $78,522 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $37.75 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 115,384 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
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 engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $78,522 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $102,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | New York University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.8% 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% |