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The differences between process engineers and quality 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 quality engineer. Additionally, a process engineer has an average salary of $82,443, which is higher than the $79,672 average annual salary of a quality engineer.
The top three skills for a process engineer include continuous improvement, sigma and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a quality engineer are corrective action, continuous improvement, and ISO.
| Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,443 | $79,672 |
| Hourly rate | $39.64 | $38.30 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 66,937 | 96,838 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 quality engineer's responsibilities include ensuring that the manufacturing processes are efficient and accurate, documenting findings that would raise concerns, conducting quality tests while observing parameters, and implementing changes as necessary to meet the highest quality standards. Quality engineers need to have excellent problem-solving and observation skills to detect any irregularities and possible malfunctions. They also must be able to communicate effectively with the clients for feedbacks and corrective adjustments, address complaints, and immediately resolve any inconsistencies made.
Process engineers and quality engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,443 | $79,672 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $61,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rio Rancho, NM | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process engineer and a quality engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process engineers' and quality engineers' demographics:
| Process Engineer | Quality Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| 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, 11.5% Asian, 13.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |