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The differences between materials research engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials research engineer has an average salary of $87,100, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a materials research engineer include materials research, research projects and characterization techniques. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Materials Research Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,100 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $41.88 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 82,912 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A materials research engineer researches, processes, and develops test materials used to create a wide range of products. They must be good in analytical, mechanical, and math skills. They are likely to perform in their role such as formulating their own project concepts, executing technology projects about the development of novel polymer fiber-reinforced composites, and identifying unknown material compositions. Also, they implement powder processing equipment and manufacture tools to improve their efficiency and quality.
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.
Materials research engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Research Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,100 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $111,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beaverton, OR | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Nike | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials research engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Materials Research 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 materials research engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Materials Research Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | 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, 66.4% 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% |