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Job outlook for process engineer, applications engineers in the United States
Process engineer, applications engineer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected process engineer, applications engineer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 30,600 new jobs for process engineer, applications engineers are projected over the next decade.
Process engineer, applications engineer salaries have increased 6% for process engineer, applications engineers in the last 5 years.
There are over 43,271 process engineer, applications engineers currently employed in the United States.
There are 61,120 active process engineer, applications engineer job openings in the US.
The average process engineer, applications engineer salary is $86,422.
Are process engineer, applications engineer jobs in demand?
Process engineer, applications engineer job and salary trends over time
Process engineer, applications engineer jobs over time
Process engineer, applications engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43,271 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 42,717 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 42,941 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 41,151 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 39,086 | 0.01% |
Average process engineer, applications engineer salary over time
Process engineer, applications engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $86,422 | $41.55 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $85,519 | $41.11 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $84,567 | $40.66 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $83,440 | $40.12 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $81,914 | $39.38 | +1.0% |
Process engineer, applications engineer jobs by state
Most common states for process engineer, applications engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 301 | 43% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,619 | 24% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 271 | 20% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 187 | 19% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 897 | 16% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 649 | 16% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,641 | 14% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,407 | 14% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,178 | 14% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 804 | 13% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 742 | 13% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 414 | 13% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 249 | 13% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 142 | 13% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 82 | 13% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 902 | 12% |
| 17 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 835 | 12% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 809 | 12% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 428 | 12% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 206 | 12% |
Most common cities for process engineer, applications engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $80,869 |
| 2 | Santa Clara | 1 | 1% | $99,034 |
| 3 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $88,330 |
| 4 | Oxnard | 1 | 0% | $93,912 |
Process Engineer, Applications Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of process engineer, applications engineer experts
University of Southern Mississippi
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Denver
University of Houston - Downtown
University of California
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
What general advice would you give to a Process Engineer, Applications 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.
Michael Buechler
Professor Manufacturing TechnologyWhat general advice would you give to a Process Engineer, Applications Engineer?
Michael Buechler: I counsel my students to know their worth and know the job market. Most important is starting out in a position that challenges you and provides training for future wage and skill growth. Many graduates can get caught in a job that pays the bills but may not provide a path to the next career step. Be ambitious and seek to attain the advanced skills quickly but keep in mind the field is complex and there is a lot to learn. If you are in a high wage position but it does not provide the training or room for advancement it might not be the best career option.
What Process Engineer, Applications Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Buechler: Model based definition, highly technical computer skills, 5 axis & familiarity with macros is going to be the future of advanced manufacturing. It is paramount that high skill individuals START with as much set-up experience as possible. In order to command 100k + as a programmer you need to know the correct inputs and physics of the manufacturing program you are making
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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.
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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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 Engineer, Applications 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.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Engineer, Applications Engineers?
Diran Apelian: All of humanity has been impacted by the pandemic - every age, race, and country. For our graduates, it will be a "story" that they will pass on to the next generation someday. Each story will be different, but one theme will be common to all of them: that they learned to be agile, resilient, enterprising, and active learners. There is always a silver lining, and the confidence that they now have in being comfortable with the uncomfortable throughout life is perhaps the greatest and most beneficial impact.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineer, Applications Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Kamran Abedini: For those graduating this academic year, and maybe next, students are almost in the same category as others who graduated in the years before. They have had their hands-on experiences in labs, and the senior-level courses were more theoretical and model analysis, and it should have been the same to them, whether virtual or in person. As such, the industry expectation should be about the same. However, since the pandemic, many have decided to work virtually; the industry will focus on those who are self-motivated and can work alone or with online interactions. This means less supervision, possibly less mentoring for new engineers, and still the same expectations. Recruiters could possibly focus more on the psychological state of the interviewees for jobs than before.
Virtual manufacturing and Industry 4.0 is becoming a reality. Virtual offices for engineers will become norms in the future, and as such, universities should also try to participate in training engineers who are expected to interact online. This means familiarity with communication software, such as Zoom and others, that connects designers, engineers, and management for an entire working day. As computers took the place of common tools of engineers, such as slide rules, virtual 3D tools will be developed to test the quality of manufactured products at the virtual manufacturing plants. Thus, better perception and visual Imagineering are needed for engineers, in addition to their intelligence. In other words, cognitive skills should be more developed in engineering schools and should be more on wisdom and decision making virtually (the same as when an airplane pilot has to learn new skills if he/she is asked to control a flying drone remotely). Productivity standards will be set for virtual work as it was done for manual and office workers in the past.