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The differences between plant engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a plant engineer, becoming a process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plant engineer has an average salary of $93,949, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a plant engineer include HVAC, project management and plant operations. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Plant Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $93,949 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $45.17 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 44,391 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A Plant Engineer is responsible for directing the smooth operation of the plant. They plan and coordinate activities concerned with the design, construction, modification, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in an industrial plant.
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.
Plant engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plant Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $93,949 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $130,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Berkeley, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Bunge | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plant engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Plant Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between plant engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Plant Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 8% | 4% |