How long does it take to become a Process Engineer?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a process engineer. That is the time it takes to learn specific process engineer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become a process engineer.

Is process engineer a good career?

Yes, being a process engineer is a good career option. This in-demand and well-paying role is not only personally satisfying, but it is also a critical function to help our society work more efficiently.

What degree do process engineers have?

Process engineers typically have a bachelor's degree in chemical, manufacturing, or industrial engineering. Often people who want to pursue a career as a process engineer will also take concentrations in chemistry or management.

What skills do you need to be a process engineer?

The most important skills needed to be a process engineer are mathematics and problem-solving skills. These two skills are absolutely critical to the functioning of the position. Other needed skills are familiarity with machinery and software. Process engineers use or oversee the use of large and complex equipment and software programs daily. As they are responsible for their safety and output, they will need to be familiar with all aspects of the machinery and software programs used.

What is a process engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Andrea Welker Ph.D.,

Brian Denton Ph.D.

A process engineer develops and implements processes to improve efficiency and productivity in various industries ranging from manufacturing to biotechnology. They analyze data, troubleshoot issues, and develop solutions to optimize production processes. Process engineers work closely with other professionals such as quality control specialists, project managers, and technicians to ensure that the process design meets requirements. They are responsible for identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to reduce waste, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.

What general advice would you give to a process engineer?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreProcess EngineerUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $82,443

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 15.61%

Black or African American 4.31%

Hispanic or Latino 10.58%

Unknown 3.89%

White 65.44%

Gender

female 17.07%

male 82.93%

Age - 41

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 - 41

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a process engineer?

Pros

High demand for process engineers in many fields
Chance to work on innovative projects and technology
Ability to work on both technical and business aspects of a project
Possibility of international travel or relocation
Chance to work with a team and collaborate with other engineers

Cons

May require long hours or being on call for emergencies
Need to stay up-to-date with constantly evolving technology and regulations
May require extensive time spent in the field or on a production floor
May require working in hazardous environments or with dangerous chemicals
Need to adhere to strict safety protocols and regulations

Key steps to become a process engineer

Explore process engineer education requirements

Most common process engineer degrees

Bachelor's

76.4 %

Master's

11.9 %

Associate

7.7 %

Start to develop specific process engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Continuous Improvement	8.12%
Sigma	5.49%
Lean Manufacturing	5.20%
Project Management	4.88%
Troubleshoot	3.90%

Complete relevant process engineer training and internships

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

Research process engineer duties and responsibilities

Lead KAIZEN projects to eliminate waste categories stemming from corrugation process.
Create and manage SharePoint sites for teams to collaborate on the work.
Lead and participate in KAIZEN events, IQ, OQ, PQ activities, set-up reduction techniques.
Lead a team, scheduling, resource planning, to create 120 catheters on schedule for a clinical trial.

Prepare your process engineer resume

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

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a process engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable process engineer resume templates

Build a professional process engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your process engineer resume.

Apply for process engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a process engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do process engineers rate their job?

4/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Process engineer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

Very challenging work because we work for physically ill person's and I think it is not a job it's a service for society from us.

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Pros

Defined Quality test procedure validated test components and planned integration tests for leading parts manufacture for industry. • Prepares and maintained important company quality control documentations such as quality manuals quality procedure, quality standards and quality assurance • Prepared the final inspection report before the dispatched for the machining process • Resolved machining department complaints, took preventive measure to prevent future complaints and clearly, documented all feedback, Mechanical Engineer for Third Party Inspection jobs in Baroda • Typically deals with several problems of the same time

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

The Different employees i work with and what all i learn from them

Cons

very little

What is a process engineer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a process engineer?

What are the pros and cons of being a process engineer?

Process engineer career paths

Key steps to become a process engineer

Explore process engineer education requirements

Most common process engineer degrees

Start to develop specific process engineer skills

Complete relevant process engineer training and internships

Research process engineer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your process engineer resume

Choose from 10+ customizable process engineer resume templates

Apply for process engineer jobs

How did you land your first process engineer job

Average process engineer salary

How do process engineers rate their job?

Process engineer reviews

Process engineer FAQs

How long does it take to become a Process Engineer?

Is process engineer a good career?

What degree do process engineers have?

What skills do you need to be a process engineer?

Search for process engineer jobs

Process engineer jobs by state