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Job outlook for process design engineers in the United States
Process design engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected process design engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 30,600 new jobs for process design engineers are projected over the next decade.
Process design engineer salaries have increased 6% for process design engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 46,361 process design engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 93,788 active process design engineer job openings in the US.
The average process design engineer salary is $89,834.
Are process design engineer jobs in demand?
Process design engineer job and salary trends over time
Process design engineer jobs over time
Process design engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 46,361 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 45,768 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 46,007 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 44,090 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 41,877 | 0.01% |
Average process design engineer salary over time
Process design engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $89,834 | $43.19 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $88,895 | $42.74 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $87,905 | $42.26 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $86,733 | $41.70 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $85,148 | $40.94 | +1.0% |
Process design engineer jobs by state
Most common states for process design engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 307 | 44% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,009 | 29% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 225 | 23% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 930 | 22% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 301 | 22% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 8,448 | 21% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,080 | 19% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,058 | 19% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,361 | 18% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,422 | 17% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,177 | 17% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 526 | 17% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 105 | 17% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 960 | 16% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 120 | 16% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,530 | 15% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 541 | 15% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 263 | 15% |
| 19 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 86 | 15% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 1,413 | 14% |
Most common cities for process design engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Monica | 5 | 5% | $98,989 |
| 2 | Lexington | 1 | 3% | $99,946 |
| 3 | Lenexa | 1 | 2% | $96,630 |
| 4 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $95,623 |
| 5 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $103,860 |
| 6 | Palo Alto | 1 | 1% | $103,897 |
| 7 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $93,931 |
| 8 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $94,676 |
| 9 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $96,950 |
Process Design Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of process design engineer experts
University of Washington
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Alabama at Huntsville
Northern Illinois University
Oklahoma State University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
North Dakota State University
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Denver
University of Pittsburgh
Weber State University
New Mexico State University
Clarkson University
Kettering University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Houston - Downtown
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
What will help Process Design Engineers increase their earning potential?
Shuai Huang: People like the leadership and management components of Industrial Engineering, the use of data analytics, simulation and digital twin technologies, and human factors to design better systems. Dislikes include the lack of understanding about the field by others.
What general advice would you give to a Process Design Engineer?
Dr. James Rawlins: The career field is ripe for students that want to solve problems and be rewarded for doing so consistently. There is a current shortage of STEM related recent graduates based upon both current retiring positions and future needs. Deloitte estimates that there will be 4.6 million manufacturing jobs to fill between 2018 and 2028. There will be a shortfall of 2.4 million and that will drive opportunities and salaries higher, estimated to be 1.7X average all position salary growth (onetonline.org) for those that have STEM related degrees. Polymer scientists, engineers and plastics engineers are highly sought after and needed.
What will help Process Design Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. James Rawlins: Historically, our students love their chosen careers, with the versatility to be in laboratories for product development, new materials synthesis and research, or in sales, marketing, technical marketing, management, production there are plenty of mobility, growth and travel opportunities. Some of our students want small to medium sized companies with lots of diverse challenges and an exciting pace while there are also many exciting opportunities in medium to large companies with many chances for mentoring, to be mentored and to grow within a larger organization. There are plenty of options for all of the varied career outlooks and perspectives.
What Process Design Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ana Wooley Ph.D.: For a graduate beginning their career in Industrial Systems Engineering, my advice is to be genuinely proactive and to take initiative. This field, like any other, comes with a steep learning curve as you familiarize yourself with the company's operations, culture, and processes. Actively seek out and engage with experienced colleagues who can mentor and guide you. Don’t hesitate to volunteer for challenging tasks, as these opportunities will significantly improve your learning and skill development. Another piece of advice I would give is not to be discouraged if you find yourself not enjoying your first job. It's important to remember that you never truly know until you experience it firsthand. This initial job can be a great learning opportunity, helping you identify what aspects of the field you don't enjoy and guiding you towards roles that are a better fit for your interests and skills. Every experience, even those that are not ideal, contributes to your overall career growth and helps you identify your career path.
What general advice would you give to a Process Design Engineer?
Mohammed Daqaq: This is a difficult question to answer and is very much dependent on how satisfied an individual is about their job. I can comment on what I hear from students with regards to their ME education. Most engineers choose ME because of its breadth and that it allows them more freedom to maneuver the job market once they graduate. They can clearly see that, despite being one of the most traditional engineering disciplines, it is still very trendy with employers. They also like the hands-on nature of the discipline where they get to design, optimize, and build physical components that work and move together to achieve a desired task. As for the dislikes, some students complain about the fact that ME requires an in-depth understanding of many mathematical concepts which many students find to be challenging.
What general advice would you give to a Process Design Engineer?
Theodore Hogan PhD, CIH: Engineering Technology B.S. graduates apply both engineering knowledge and industrial management skills to practical problem solving. The day-to-day work includes collaborating with management and line workers to troubleshoot issues along with planning and implementing process improvements. More experienced Engineering Technology graduates apply these people and problem-solving skills to manage traditional engineers and general business operations.
What general advice would you give to a Process Design Engineer?
Guiping Hu Ph.D.: People like the diversity and flexibility of being an industrial engineer. You can work on all kinds of problems with your industrial engineering skills. However, if you are only looking for a very narrow area in a specific engineering discipline, industrial engineering may not be right for you since we focus on system efficiency improvement and welfare of the workers.
What Process Design Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Guiping Hu Ph.D.: Industrial Engineering is a very inclusive, diverse, and dynamic discipline. IE is about choices, other engineering disciplines apply skills to very specific areas. IE gives you the opportunity to work on a variety of businesses. If you are interested in management and interacting with people and improving systems, IE is a great choice for you.
Uises Gonzalez-Valle
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What will help Process Design Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uises Gonzalez-Valle: The beginning of professional life is not simple independent of the career path that you follow and ME and MET can have their own complications. However, some good advice would be to develop independence and adaptability which are key traits of an engineer, and always keep yourself updated with the most recent technological developments. If you are independent and adaptable, you have all the skills to learn and further your professional development. In addition, I would say it is essential to start building a network, including peers and mentors. Having a strong network of peers and mentors helps you significantly to progress in your professional line. From day-to-day to daily changing decisions, having a strong network to support would significantly help in building your professional path. Lastly, I would say that having a good Work-life balance is vital too, since our personal life is as important as our professional life. Remember, we should work to live instead of live to work.
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.
Department Chair and ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department
What soft skills should all Process Design Engineers possess?
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.: Communication, problem-solving abilities, leadership, and organizational skills are all key in allowing IE's to be successful in the workplace and to build teams that can collaborate and adapt to unexpected changes, challenges, and setbacks in the workplace. These skills also help them to leverage the resources to solve problems quickly with low costs allowing them to move on to the next challenge facing the world today in today's complex economy, in particular when facing a pandemic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Process Design Engineers?
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.: An IE must be able to break down complex problems into manageable issues and provide solutions for these problems that face the world in today's complex interconnected systems. A background in statistics, design and analysis, process management, and a strong foundation in the engineering disciplines make this possible.
What skills will help Process Design Engineers earn the most?
Dr. David Grewell Ph.D.: Good communication and leadership skills that are embedded in their curriculum enable IE's to quickly move up the corporate ladder and become the CEO of the nation's leading companies.
Mike DeVore Ph.D.
Professor & Program ChairCincinnati State Technical & Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Process Design Engineers?
Mike DeVore Ph.D.: -Computer-Aided Design
-Knowledge of manufacturing processes
-A good mathematics foundation
-Technical communication
-Problem solving
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Design Engineer job market given the pandemic?
William Cross Ph.D.: The biggest job market trends given the pandemic are working from home, and slightly delayed hiring - in Metallurgical Engineering at SD Mines, it took about 9-12 months for our Spring 2020 graduates to be hired to levels that took less than three months pre-pandemic, although eventually most of our graduates have been placed. The Fall 2020 graduates have seen a similar delay.
I expect some of the work from home will remain into the future, but do not expect the delayed hiring to extend for too much longer. I also expect that in some fields the pandemic has accelerated trends towards greater automation of job functions.
What soft skills should all Process Design Engineers possess?
William Cross Ph.D.: The soft skills that all graduates should possess are primarily in communication - speaking/writing clearly, and listening/reading comprehension - and in teamwork skills. Being able to function in a variety of roles on a team is very important to success in many jobs.
How have salaries changed over time for Process Design Engineers?
William Cross Ph.D.: This of course depends on the time range to which the question refers. Over the last 4-5 years salaries have been rather flat on average going by SD Mines graduates in Metallurgical Engineering, although this is working off a rather high baseline. SD Mines has been recognized as the top engineering schools in the nation for return on investment, and Metallugical Engineering has an above average starting salary for SD Mines at around $65,000/year.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Design Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Since pandemic is not over yet, there may be only a guess on how significant this impact can be. I think answering this question resonates with more general one, namely, "Will our life after COVID-19 be the same as before?" We all want to be positive about that but are just not certain. Moreover, I think in some professional aspects in most fields, changes are unavoidable. Working from home, attending virtual conferences, taking part in Zoom meetings, even virtual get together with colleagues will most probably remain to be a new post-pandemic working routine, by all advantages and disadvantages this may bring to most recent graduates. Speaking about materials science, I hope and do believe that there will be global and impactful factors other than coronavirus pandemic, such as novel materials trends, technological innovations etc., to take into account for graduates.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Process Design Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: I think most graduate programs in materials science offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Their philosophy is to educate and prepare job prospects by providing advanced aspects of work, including extensive collaborations between departments, programs, institutions or with industrial partners. Offering specialized trainings in various areas, graduate programs aim to merge basic and applied research within the certain field. With this said, quit often graduate programs work also with leading industrial scientists who help to provide to the graduates new and practical directions to become competitive at the job market. Answering your question more specifically, graduate programs do target as complementary and comprehensive education as possible. It will be interesting to hear from graduates what courses they took have the biggest impact for them, as well as if they need any additional certifications/licenses and which specifically.
How have salaries changed over time for Process Design Engineers?
Andriy Voronov: Being materials scientist means being able to do lot of things starting from fundamental research on material properties and characterization up to developing entirely new formulations and modify them to make new products suitable for new applications. One should be prepared to work in research lab, but also in pilot plants, as well as in manufacturing facilities. As for the soft skills, those are critical thinking, problem solving, communication, written and oral, including ability to communicate science to scientists, but also nonscientific audience, also flexibility and adaptability in (always) willing to learn. Although not a soft skill, but rather technical one, do not forget about fundamental knowledge and understanding of materials specifics and properties one works with.
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Mechanical & Materials EngineeringUniversity of Denver
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Design Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think so. At least for a couple years.
What's a good job out of college for Process Design Engineers?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think any technical job is a good job for engineers. You build experience, ideally in an area of interest, making it easier to get your next job.
What will help Process Design Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I stress outside the class experiences - internships, undergraduate research, and/or study abroad. I believe all help with earning potential. And maybe students should consider getting their PE.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Process Design Engineers?
Karen Bursic Ph.D.: Right now, the Lean Six Sigma certifications as well as certifications or coursework in Supply Chain Management.
How have salaries changed over time for Process Design Engineers?
Karen Bursic Ph.D.: This is one area I am really not an expert in although every time I check out entry level salaries for IEs in the Pittsburgh area (which I often cite in student recruitment efforts and look up at least twice a year), I see a steady increase.
What will help Process Design Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. A. Tye Gardner Ph.D.: Getting a master's degree goes a long way to making candidates stand out and improving earnings. My recommendation is to tailor your MS degree to the specific field you're interested in working in, because employers really want to see candidates that are passionate about the field, and very few people survive a graduate degree without at least a little passion. Available salary data indicates that if you choose an affordable program (let's just say Weber State University), it takes only a few years to pay off the added cost, increases starting salaries, and dramatically improves long-term earning potential. Moreover, you can find electrical engineers with MBAs at C-level positions all over the country. It turns out being an EE makes you a good candidate for business leadership.
What's a good job out of college for Process Design Engineers?
Edward Pines Ph.D.: I like to say a good job is the one that gets you ready for the next job and beyond in your career path. And, even a job that's not ideal can provide a lot of learning. A lot of my job these days is working with student entrepreneurs and some of them are seeking corporate or government sector employment first to develop industry knowledge and experience before developing an entrepreneurial idea. Many engineers learn more about themselves and their interests in their first job. They can develop their social and communication skills at the same time.
What technical skills for a Process Design Engineer stand out to employers?
Tracy Farrell: Technical skills that employers are seeking include "real" computer skills like Microsoft Office Suite tools, proper communication skills via email and website development and postings, developing proper document format that is appropriate to send to stakeholders (i.e., letter formatting, report writing, email formatting); strong communication skills that include speaking professionally and respectfully to stakeholders as well as writing professionally (i.e., making eye contact when speaking, proper handshake, respectful dialogue including questioning); project management - knowing how to organize work and develop a timeline that includes who will be responsible for what and follow through; data analysis - being able to not only present data in an organized and understandable manner; but, be able to interpret data correctly offering the justification behind what they are interpreting and why.
Respectfully, today's graduates do not understand that being able to text and use social media does not prepare them for "real" computer skills. Many students that I have in high school and in college do not have proper writing skills, document formatting skills, or document management skills to know how to save documents properly and where to save to.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Design Engineers?
Tracy Farrell: I believe there will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates. Positively, they are now prepared to work in a variety of work environments: in-person, hybrid, and remote only. Navigating the changing schedules and technologies have put graduates at an advantage.
Negatively, some graduates may not have adjusted well to hybrid or remote only learning; therefore, putting them at a disadvantage to be able to adjust easily and successfully to managing time and organizing their "work space" to be productive in hybrid or remote only environments. These graduates will need to improve time management and organizational skills in order to be successful.
What's a good job out of college for Process Design Engineers?
Tracy Farrell: A "good" job out of college, in my opinion, is an entry-level position with a company that provides advancement. I would recommend that if graduates did not take advantage of internship opportunities, early and often, they will be at a disadvantage to "think they know it all" and have proven not to be as successful. Entry positions offer valuable training and teach transferable skills that can only be gained in entry-level positions (or internships) like communication skills, time management, organization, teamwork, aspects of all positions.
I strongly recommend that a graduate start interning well before they graduate. Internships can serve as "entry-level positions" providing opportunities for learning, growth, and hands-on experience they would not have otherwise. NYS high school business education programs have been offering internships for years, for credit, and many students do not take advantage of these programs.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Design Engineers?
Scott Grasman Ph.D.: Hybrid and virtual learning can be effective, but students may lack hands-on experiences in some cases. Graduates from programs that complement instruction with co-op education, and/or have been effective in creating virtual laboratories, will be more successful.
Perhaps more importantly, social dynamics have changed significantly. Students have fewer opportunities to learn from other students or to have meaningful interactions with faculty, which may cause lack of motivation or poor mentoring.
Graduates, however, may benefit from technology changes being implemented in traditional classrooms. As graduates progress in their careers they will likely pursue additional educational opportunities, many in the hybrid or virtual environment with which they have become familiar.
What experience really stands out on Process Design Engineer resumes?
Scott Grasman Ph.D.: Graduates that have applied their classroom learning to real work experiences will differentiate themselves from others. Showing that you have particular skills, perhaps through certifications, and highlighting your specific abilities through tangible examples is critical.
In addition to a resume, students could create a portfolio of items that demonstrates their knowledge and ability.
What type of skills will young Process Design Engineers need?
Scott Grasman Ph.D.: Many surveys have highlighted the need for soft skills: listening, communication, etc. Beyond that, graduates should enter the workforce with a curiosity to seek out and solve problems, to look for mentorship, and not be afraid to take on new challenges.
The working environment is always changing so graduates will need the ability to adapt and to learn new skills. It often gets overlooked but graduates must have valuable technical skill or they will be left out.
What experience really stands out on Process Design Engineer resumes?
Dr. Mingshao Zhang: Internship and Co-op (Cooperative Education) experiences that related to the industry.
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator, Assistant ChairUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Sciences and Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Design Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Chemistry graduates can work in a broad spectrum of fields: education, government agencies, research laboratories, and industry (oil, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical), and these jobs should still be viable options to Chemistry majors, even during the pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, I anticipate a greater number of opportunities arising in the pharmaceutical industry and the drug discovery field.
What skills stand out on Process Design Engineer resumes?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Apart from a good foundation in the chemistry discipline, skills that will stand out on resumes include: experience in various analytical techniques, excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, ability to work collaboratively (team player), and the ability to think critically to find solutions to problems (problem solving). Another valuable skill nowadays would be to be competent in the use of technology for communication purposes (Zoom, etc.).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Process Design Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Texas is a good place for Chemistry graduates, particularly the city of Houston, which houses the largest medical center in the world, and the largest petroleum industry hub in the world. Most of our graduates find employment in the oil industry but also in those companies that provide services to the petroleum industry, such as chemical supply, waste disposal, chemical safety, etc. Our graduates also find employment in the medical research field, in research labs such as the famous UT Anderson Cancer Center.
Charles Jenckes
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
Mechanical Engineering
What skills stand out on Process Design Engineer resumes?
Charles Jenckes: For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student