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The differences between process & automation engineers and industrial 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 process & automation engineer and an industrial engineer. Additionally, a process & automation engineer has an average salary of $87,723, which is higher than the $76,501 average annual salary of an industrial engineer.
The top three skills for a process & automation engineer include PLC, project management and C++. The most important skills for an industrial engineer are continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and sigma.
| Process & Automation Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,723 | $76,501 |
| Hourly rate | $42.17 | $36.78 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 66,311 | 46,756 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Process & automation engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for optimizing the industrial process of manufacturing companies while maintaining automated machinery used in the process. These engineers are required to manage process improvement projects that focus on cost reduction and increasing the profits of the company. They must use PLC/SCADA technologies to develop industrial automation and process control systems. Process & automation engineers must also conduct troubleshooting and maintenance activities to optimize the performance of all automated manufacturing machinery.
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.
Process & automation engineers and industrial engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process & Automation Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,723 | $76,501 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $110,000 | Between $59,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Cepheid | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process & automation engineer and an industrial engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process & Automation Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Industrial Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between process & automation engineers' and industrial engineers' demographics:
| Process & Automation Engineer | Industrial Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 13.3% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 4% |