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The differences between process development engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a process development engineer, becoming an equipment engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $89,754 average annual salary of a process development engineer.
The top three skills for a process development engineer include data analysis, DOE and R. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Process Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,754 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $43.15 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 118,616 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A Process Development Engineer creates and implements process technology for product manufacturing to optimize workflow, improve operating capabilities, and help ensure workers' safety. They help enhance the speed and quality of processing from a variety of industries, such as mining or manufacturing.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Process development engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,754 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $114,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Apple | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Energy |
There are a few differences between a process development engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between process development engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Process Development Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.2% Female, 18.8% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.3% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |