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The differences between process engineers and process improvement engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a process engineer and a process improvement engineer. Additionally, a process improvement engineer has an average salary of $82,473, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a process engineer include continuous improvement, sigma and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a process improvement engineer are lean six sigma, sigma, and project management.
| Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,443 | $82,473 |
| Hourly rate | $39.64 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 66,937 | 55,438 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.
A process improvement engineer specializes in conducting research and analysis to develop new strategies and ideas to improve the processes in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting. They prioritize efficiency and profitability. Most of the time, engineers participate in a series of meetings where they coordinate with fellow engineers to determine opportunities for product growth and development. Moreover, a process improvement engineer is also responsible for crafting new policies and regulations, upgrading systems, and developing new practices to ensure product quality and customer satisfaction.
Process engineers and process improvement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,443 | $82,473 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rio Rancho, NM | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process engineer and a process improvement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between process engineers' and process improvement engineers' demographics:
| Process Engineer | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 15.6% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 10.5% White, 69.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |