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The differences between process engineers and product development 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 engineer, becoming a product development engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a product development engineer has an average salary of $86,075, 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 product development engineer are CAD, solidworks, and product development.
| Process Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,443 | $86,075 |
| Hourly rate | $39.64 | $41.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 66,937 | 202,155 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.
Process engineers and product development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,443 | $86,075 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $64,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rio Rancho, NM | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process engineer and a product development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between process engineers' and product development engineers' demographics:
| Process Engineer | Product Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |