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The differences between manufacturing quality 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 quality engineer and an industrial engineer. Additionally, a manufacturing quality engineer has an average salary of $89,693, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing quality engineer include continuous improvement, corrective action and sigma. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Manufacturing Quality Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,693 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $43.12 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 111,968 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing quality engineer is in charge of designing and developing quality control programs to meet the standard procedures and products of a company. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current programs and systems, identifying the needs of manufacturing plants and its workforce, and upgrading existing systems. One may also address issues and concerns, performing corrective measures as needed. Furthermore, as a manufacturing quality engineer, it is essential to conduct regular inspections to maintain a safe and efficient work environment for everyone.
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 quality engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Quality Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,693 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $122,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Pleasanton, 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 quality engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Quality Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | 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 quality engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Quality Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.1% 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% |