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The differences between manufacturing engineers lead and senior process 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 lead, becoming a senior process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior process engineer has an average salary of $105,378, which is higher than the $88,937 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer lead.
The top three skills for a manufacturing engineer lead include lean manufacturing, sigma and CAD. The most important skills for a senior process engineer are continuous improvement, project management, and data analysis.
| Manufacturing Engineer Lead | Senior Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,937 | $105,378 |
| Hourly rate | $42.76 | $50.66 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 74,287 | 56,510 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Lead manufacturing engineers are responsible for assisting with new product expansion, product introduction, and pricing out planning for existing product lines alongside the implementation of engineering processes and principles. They help with the technical coordination between division and group leading manufacturing locations beyond the present site. Their duties include implementing manufacturing engineering to provide superior technical output promptly. Also, they fulfill technical subject matter competence, assist with the growth of organizational engineering or technical skills to reach the division and site strategies, as well as aid in the training for receiving and sending sites.
A Senior Process Engineer assesses a process efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and quality. They also conduct process improvement initiatives and custom product developments.
Manufacturing engineers lead and senior process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Engineer Lead | Senior Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,937 | $105,378 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $112,000 | Between $82,000 And $134,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing engineer lead and a senior process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Engineer Lead | Senior Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between manufacturing engineers lead' and senior process engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Engineer Lead | Senior Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.3% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |