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Materials process engineer vs industrial engineer

The differences between materials process engineers and industrial engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials process engineer has an average salary of $90,788, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.

The top three skills for a materials process engineer include failure analysis, material properties and process specifications. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.

Materials process engineer vs industrial engineer overview

Materials Process EngineerIndustrial Engineer
Yearly salary$90,788$76,501
Hourly rate$43.65$36.78
Growth rate6%10%
Number of jobs79,79546,756
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4142
Years of experience-4

What does a materials process engineer do?

Materials Process Engineers are licensed engineers who develop different materials, usually for research or production purposes. They may create new materials derived from existing compounds and materials. Materials Process Engineers must document the processes involved in creating these new materials. They would then study the different elements and specifications of this new material. This would help industries that may need a similar material gauge, whether applicable in their area. Material Process Engineers also work on finding new ways to use existing materials. This would help increase the value of the material since there are more and practical uses for it.

What does an industrial engineer do?

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.

Materials process engineer vs industrial engineer salary

Materials process engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Materials Process EngineerIndustrial Engineer
Average salary$90,788$76,501
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $118,000Between $59,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityEverett, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyMetaApple
Best paying industryAutomotiveTechnology

Differences between materials process engineer and industrial engineer education

There are a few differences between a materials process engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:

Materials Process EngineerIndustrial Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorChemical EngineeringIndustrial Engineering
Most common collegeGeorgia Institute of TechnologyNew York University

Materials process engineer vs industrial engineer demographics

Here are the differences between materials process engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:

Materials Process EngineerIndustrial Engineer
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 78.3% Female, 21.7%Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.3% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage10%4%

Differences between materials process engineer and industrial engineer duties and responsibilities

Materials process engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage and successfully complete carbon/epoxy material qualification and gain approval from FAA to use in manufacturing of composite aircraft parts.
  • Redesign polymer formulations for critical defense and aerospace programs due to chemical obsolescence.
  • Pulled/Analyze data in JMP package.
  • Project manager for electrical and thermo-property testing to ASTM standards.
  • Perform weekly injector, thrust chamber, and gear quality inspection per AES, ASTM, standards and DELMIA requirements.
  • Coordinate with the forging and heat treatment departments to resolve the occasional recurring excessive ultrasonic noise issue in titanium alloys.
  • Show more

Industrial engineer example responsibilities.

  • Plan, manage, lead and execute projects from conception to successful completion using the DMAIC methodology.
  • Manage development of equipment, which include electrical systems, PLC programming, pneumatic circuits, hydraulic systems and fixtures.
  • Lead PDCA project to reduce order sizing defects that impact customer product delivery, avoiding $230K in lose revenue.
  • Utilize AutoCad for plant layout modifications or capital projects.
  • Train new IE's in the work group in labor reporting, equipment cycle timing and labor standards.
  • Lead for manufacturing relate continuous improvement activities including Kaizen events to improve production efficiency b
  • Show more

Materials process engineer vs industrial engineer skills

Common materials process engineer skills
  • Failure Analysis, 10%
  • Material Properties, 9%
  • Process Specifications, 6%
  • Engineering Drawings, 5%
  • DOD, 4%
  • Data Analysis, 3%
Common industrial engineer skills
  • Continuous Improvement, 9%
  • Lean Manufacturing, 7%
  • Sigma, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Logistics, 5%
  • Lean Six Sigma, 4%

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