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The differences between principal process engineers and production 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 principal process engineer and a production engineer. Additionally, a principal process engineer has an average salary of $126,348, which is higher than the $89,727 average annual salary of a production engineer.
The top three skills for a principal process engineer include process engineering, continuous improvement and engineering design. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Principal Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $126,348 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $60.74 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 82,358 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Principal Process Engineer is responsible for analyzing process technologies and proposal support for the engineering activities of the organization. They may work in various industries, such as chemical, petrochemical, agriculture, software development, and biotechnological.
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Principal process engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $126,348 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $93,000 And $171,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tucson, AZ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Arizona | California |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a principal process engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Principal Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between principal process engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Principal Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.7% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |