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What is a process control engineer and how to become one
Process control engineers mostly work in manufacturing plants and facilities. Their job is to ensure the effectiveness of the manufacturing process in the facility. The daily tasks depend heavily on the kind of plant and the control engineer's specialization.
Process control engineers are mostly concerned with the quality assurance of the facility. They maintain the processes that create the required products, and without their input, quality assurance would be a nightmare.
A day in the life of a process control engineer involves designing, implementing, and understanding the manufacturing processes. They may also test and troubleshoot to identify inefficiencies and optimize as necessary. Some other responsibilities include overseeing the larger production operation, automating specific processes, fixing hardware problems, and retrofitting existing systems for new functions.
To become a process control engineer, you need a bachelor's degree and possibly even an advanced degree in systems engineering or a related field. Some employers may also need process control engineers to fit leadership roles, in which case, you'll need the necessary experience and skills.
What general advice would you give to a process control engineer?
Robert Saunders P.E.
Assistant Department Head, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Avg. Salary $87,430
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 13.33%
Black or African American 4.75%
Hispanic or Latino 11.68%
Unknown 3.95%
White 66.12%
Genderfemale 12.97%
male 87.03%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Process control engineer career paths
Key steps to become a process control engineer
Explore process control engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific process control engineer skills
Skills Percentages PLC 9.54% HMI 7.11% Control Systems 5.36% Troubleshoot 4.90% Allen-Bradley 4.35% Complete relevant process control engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New process control engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a process control engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real process control engineer resumes.Research process control engineer duties and responsibilities
- Design a PID controller to manage temperature and flow disturbances.
- Obtain referrals, track hospitalized patients, interface with manage care intermediaries/medical personnel.
- Design PLC base process control systems for hazardous locations waste gas destruction thermal oxidizers used in natural gas processing facilities.
- Create 3D model designs for new projects using solidworks.
Prepare your process control engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your process control engineer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a process control engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable process control engineer resume templates
Build a professional process control engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your process control engineer resume.
Apply for process control engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a process control engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first process control engineer job
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Average process control engineer salary
The average process control engineer salary in the United States is $87,430 per year or $42 per hour. Process control engineer salaries range between $66,000 and $114,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do process control engineers rate their job?
Process control engineer reviews
Repair, And Any Over Head Installation
Being on the field doing running inspections and learning from the technicians
Being expose to bad weather that compromise the safety of operations.
Schedules my co worker where to work each day and making sure the process is flowing with the machines, materials and the needed information to make the products and service come out right.
The pay grade is low keyed for the type of production we produce. Average salary is $78,540 dollars...
Updated January 8, 2025
