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The differences between process control engineers and planning 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 control engineer and a planning engineer. Additionally, a process control engineer has an average salary of $87,430, which is higher than the $82,521 average annual salary of a planning engineer.
The top three skills for a process control engineer include PLC, HMI and control systems. The most important skills for a planning engineer are project management, infrastructure, and transmission planning.
| Process Control Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,430 | $82,521 |
| Hourly rate | $42.03 | $39.67 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 84,749 | 56,792 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In the manufacturing industry, a process control engineer specializes in planning and executing quality control processes in a company, ensuring that every equipment is working safely and efficiently. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring and inspecting systems and machinery, coordinating with various department staff, devising strategies to improve processes, and recommending solutions for optimal services. A process control engineer may also respond to inquiries and concerns, resolving issues promptly. Furthermore, there are instances when a process control engineer must produce progress reports, presentations, and assessments.
A planning engineer is in charge of developing plans and systems to organize and schedule project procedures, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities revolve around learning and understanding the extent of all operations, setting schedules and objectives, liaising with external parties such as vendors or distributors, and maintaining an active communication line with other departments. Furthermore, a planning engineer must monitor the progress of the workflow and the performance of the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Process control engineers and planning engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Control Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,430 | $82,521 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $114,000 | Between $61,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Koch Fertilizer | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a process control engineer and a planning engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Control Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process control engineers' and planning engineers' demographics:
| Process Control Engineer | Planning Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% | Male, 83.2% Female, 16.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 13.3% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |