How To Become A Process Development Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a process development technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

John Irwin EdD

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a process development technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.81 an hour? That's $49,516 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 2,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a process development technician?

John Irwin EdD

Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University

Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.

ScoreProcess Development TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $49,516

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 11.29%

Black or African American 8.86%

Hispanic or Latino 15.54%

Unknown 4.81%

White 58.82%

Gender

female 22.67%

male 77.33%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a process development technician

Explore process development technician education requirements

Most common process development technician degrees

Bachelor's

64.5 %

Associate

22.5 %

Master's

5.5 %

Start to develop specific process development technician skills

Skills	Percentages
R	10.96%
GMP	9.20%
Data Entry	6.09%
Process Equipment	6.04%
Product Development	4.92%

Complete relevant process development technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New process development technicians 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 development technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real process development technician resumes.

Research process development technician duties and responsibilities

General laboratory duties; coordinate maintenance of equipment, maintain ingredient and prototype inventory, manage shipping and receiving.
Support and troubleshoot pharmacy medication packaging system.
Operate feasibility and prototype manufacturing equipment to provide performance feedback and troubleshoot failures.
General laboratory duties; coordinate maintenance of equipment, maintain ingredient and prototype inventory, manage shipping and receiving.

Prepare your process development technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your process development technician resume.

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