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The differences between manufacturing scientists and manufacturing engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a manufacturing scientist, becoming a manufacturing engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a manufacturing scientist has an average salary of $87,366, which is higher than the $78,522 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing scientist include chemistry, continuous improvement and QC. The most important skills for a manufacturing engineer are lean manufacturing, CAD, and solidworks.
| Manufacturing Scientist | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,366 | $78,522 |
| Hourly rate | $42.00 | $37.75 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 74,018 | 115,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A manufacturing scientist specializes in conducting experiments to develop products and procedures according to its product development needs. It is their duty to understand the purpose and vision of the projects, perform research and analysis, coordinate with clients and experts, and keep records of all procedures and findings. They must also identify market needs, studying feedback from clients. Furthermore, as a manufacturing scientist, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for an efficient and successful workflow.
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.
Manufacturing scientists and manufacturing engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Scientist | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,366 | $78,522 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $122,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Lumileds | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing scientist and a manufacturing engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Scientist | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Biology | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between manufacturing scientists' and manufacturing engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Scientist | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.6% Female, 54.4% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 26.5% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 5% |