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Packaging engineer vs project lead engineer

The differences between packaging engineers and project lead 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 packaging engineer and a project lead engineer. Additionally, a project lead engineer has an average salary of $106,946, which is higher than the $88,452 average annual salary of a packaging engineer.

The top three skills for a packaging engineer include CAD, project management and solidworks. The most important skills for a project lead engineer are project management, renewable energy, and project execution.

Packaging engineer vs project lead engineer overview

Packaging EngineerProject Lead Engineer
Yearly salary$88,452$106,946
Hourly rate$42.52$51.42
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs54,02898,018
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a packaging engineer do?

A Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.

What does a project lead engineer do?

Project lead engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for leading other professionals in completing a particular project. These engineers must develop a project management framework to be implemented throughout the organization based on the inputs from internal stakeholders and team members. They are required to train junior team members so that they can provide proper technical support functions. Project lead engineers must also prepare and review cost estimates for a variety of projects during bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.

Packaging engineer vs project lead engineer salary

Packaging engineers and project lead engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Packaging EngineerProject Lead Engineer
Average salary$88,452$106,946
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $118,000Between $78,000 And $146,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CACupertino, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleApple
Best paying industryTechnologyAutomotive

Differences between packaging engineer and project lead engineer education

There are a few differences between a packaging engineer and a project lead engineer in terms of educational background:

Packaging EngineerProject Lead Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorEngineering And Industrial ManagementMechanical Engineering
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Packaging engineer vs project lead engineer demographics

Here are the differences between packaging engineers' and project lead engineers' demographics:

Packaging EngineerProject Lead Engineer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 77.1% Female, 22.9%Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.1% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.2% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between packaging engineer and project lead engineer duties and responsibilities

Packaging engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage UAT testing of App-V/Thin-App applications.
  • Manage implementation and changes using FDA compliant documentation and change management processes.
  • Manage Linux staging and testing environments and also automate application packaging and deployments.
  • Manage packaging redesign project to maintain compliance with current FDA regulations for medical device packaging.
  • Manage in-house process, which include art direction, copy/editorial development, photography, and print production management for domestic/international market.
  • Develop windows application in c #to process customer and policy information.
  • Show more

Project lead engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage IP environments using Cisco and Microsoft products.
  • Lead manufacturing process of all parts using lathe, mill, and CNC in university machine shop.
  • Manage the reverse engineering of all standard product lines to create SolidWorks models, product conceptualizations, and detail drawings.
  • Lead numerous ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 implementations from planning through certification in industries ranging from medical devices to government services.
  • Manage calibration system for multiple facilities/countries to assure compliance to ISO requirements.
  • Partner with the corporate PMO team to standardize reporting requirements for functionally manage initiatives.
  • Show more

Packaging engineer vs project lead engineer skills

Common packaging engineer skills
  • CAD, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Solidworks, 7%
  • ASTM, 5%
  • Package Design, 5%
  • ISTA, 4%
Common project lead engineer skills
  • Project Management, 14%
  • Renewable Energy, 7%
  • Project Execution, 5%
  • Engineering Design, 3%
  • Autocad, 3%
  • R, 3%

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