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The differences between manufacturing engineering interns 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 manufacturing engineering internship and a production engineer. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, which is higher than the $53,047 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineering internship.
The top three skills for a manufacturing engineering internship include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and CAD. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Manufacturing Engineering Internship | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $53,047 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $25.50 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 125,868 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing engineering intern is responsible for assisting the manufacturing engineers on the plant's daily operations, analyzing the manufacturing process and procedures, and recommending strategic solutions to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Manufacturing engineering interns shadow the production staff, inspect the tools and equipment of the manufacturing, analyze the quality control documentation, and perform related administrative tasks to familiarize themselves with the plant structure. A manufacturing engineering intern must have excellent communication and organization skills, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment.
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.
Manufacturing engineering interns and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Engineering Internship | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $53,047 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $68,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Kirkland, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Anheuser-Busch | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing engineering internship and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Engineering Internship | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing engineering interns' and production engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Engineering Internship | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.3% Female, 18.7% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 66.2% 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% |