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The differences between manufacturing systems engineers and project 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 systems engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing systems engineer has an average salary of $84,708, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing systems engineer include MES, SQL and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Manufacturing Systems Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,708 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $40.73 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 118,696 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A manufacturing systems engineer works to integrate entire manufacturing processes. The role of a manufacturing system engineer includes integrating a wide range of systems from production to supplies and sales, participating in a project from beginning to end, budgeting and performing resource allocation. They must also integrate the manufacturing process to allow for maximum production volume at lower costs and within a shorter time period.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Manufacturing systems engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Systems Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,708 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Education | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing systems engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Systems Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between manufacturing systems engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Systems Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |