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The differences between operations engineers and industrial engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an operations engineer, becoming an industrial engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an operations engineer has an average salary of $91,522, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for an operations engineer include python, cloud and AWS. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Operations Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,522 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $44.00 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 155,188 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
An operations engineer is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the operations of a company are working properly in industries such as manufacturing or shipping. Operations engineers are required to handle repairs or upgrades to the company's machinery and coordinate with department heads to assist in fine-tuning their operations system. When they have upgraded their system, operations engineers should conduct training with managers as well as employees and other workers. They are also required to examine machinery for defects and communicate maintenance schedules with department heads.
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.
Operations engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operations Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $91,522 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $132,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an operations engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Operations Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | New York University |
Here are the differences between operations engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Operations Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.9% Female, 10.1% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 10.6% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 Percentage | 5% | 4% |