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The differences between principal manufacturing engineers and industrial engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a principal manufacturing engineer, becoming an industrial engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a principal manufacturing engineer has an average salary of $94,463, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a principal manufacturing engineer include CAD, continuous improvement and process control. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,463 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $45.41 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 91,957 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Principle Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for leading an organization's operations involved in reducing cost, increasing production capacity, and implementing new efficient processes. Their duties include developing production capacity cost and quality targets and implementing workforce utilization, workspace efficiency, workflow, and equipment layout. They also manage project milestones by working closely with internal groups and suppliers. Principle Manufacturing Engineers review production data gathered, supervise production process improvements, and assist in the accurate manufacturing documentation.
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.
Principal manufacturing engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,463 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $122,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | ZS | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal manufacturing engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between principal manufacturing engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Principal Manufacturing Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 17.2% White, 63.3% 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 Percentage | 5% | 4% |