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The differences between manufacturing test engineers and process 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 test engineer and a process engineer. Additionally, a manufacturing test engineer has an average salary of $98,285, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing test engineer include test equipment, labview and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,285 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $47.25 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 64,188 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A manufacturing test engineer specializes in designing and developing test structures to ensure the quality of products according to the company's policies and standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with the design team to determine test parameters, producing test documentation, troubleshooting, and performing quality assurance procedures. A manufacturing test engineer must also assess the existing test procedures to identify its strengths and weaknesses, implementing solutions as needed. Furthermore, they may assist the quality assurance teams in conducting tests, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.
Manufacturing test engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $98,285 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $134,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing test engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between manufacturing test engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Test Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |