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The differences between process engineers and production 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 production engineer. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, 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 production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,443 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $39.64 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 66,937 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
Process engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,443 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rio Rancho, NM | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Process Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |