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The differences between material engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material engineer has an average salary of $86,258, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a material engineer include DOD, failure analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Material Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $86,258 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $41.47 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 89,717 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
Materials engineers are responsible for developing, processing, and testing materials used to create a wide variety of products. These professionals study and evaluate the properties and structure of different materials, including plastics, metal, ceramics, and composites, to create new products. They also perform other tasks that include providing technical advice on suitable materials, diagnosing faults, and providing advice on planning and conducting inspections, repairs, and maintenance. Additionally, they may also oversee the work of other scientists like technicians and evaluate the technical and economic factors surrounding the design aspects of products.
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.
Material engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $86,258 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $113,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Material Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Materials Science And Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between material engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Material Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.5% Female, 21.5% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 19.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 10% | 4% |