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Job outlook for process engineering supervisors in the United States
Process engineering supervisor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected process engineering supervisor job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 4,400 new jobs for process engineering supervisors are projected over the next decade.
Process engineering supervisor salaries have increased 11% for process engineering supervisors in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,065 process engineering supervisors currently employed in the United States.
There are 76,080 active process engineering supervisor job openings in the US.
The average process engineering supervisor salary is $102,417.
Are process engineering supervisor jobs in demand?
Process engineering supervisor job and salary trends over time
Process engineering supervisor jobs over time
Process engineering supervisor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,065 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 12,632 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 12,526 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12,142 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11,606 | 0.00% |
Average process engineering supervisor salary over time
Process engineering supervisor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $102,417 | $49.24 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $99,197 | $47.69 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $96,410 | $46.35 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $94,328 | $45.35 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $92,280 | $44.37 | +1.5% |
Process engineering supervisor jobs by state
Most common states for process engineering supervisors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 277 | 40% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,546 | 23% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 226 | 23% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 275 | 20% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 210 | 20% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 769 | 19% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 144 | 19% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 564 | 18% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 104 | 18% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,410 | 17% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 123 | 17% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,204 | 16% |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 281 | 16% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 862 | 15% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 772 | 14% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 269 | 14% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 192 | 14% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 151 | 14% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,285 | 13% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 113 | 13% |
Most common cities for process engineering supervisors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan City | 1 | 3% | $99,091 |
| 2 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $98,446 |
Process Engineering Supervisor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of process engineering supervisor experts
Pennsylvania State University - Abington
University of Iowa
University of Maryland - College Park
San Jose State University
Clemson University
Ohio University
York College of Pennsylvania
Kettering University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
North Dakota State University
University of Denver
Union College
University of Utah
California State University - Sacramento
University of Pittsburgh
University of Houston - Downtown
What will help Process Engineering Supervisors increase their earning potential?
Yi Yang PhD: First of all, be really good at what you do. Always negotiate for a higher salary based on your qualifications and market value. Additionally, consider exploring opportunities in management and actively contribute to strategic decision-making. Taking calculated risks, such as joining a startup, can also lead to valuable experiences and skill development that can enhance your earning potential in the long run.
What general advice would you give to a Process Engineering Supervisor?
Yi Yang PhD: For new graduates beginning their careers in engineering, I would advise them to consider the broader impact of their work and look for opportunities to expand their management potential. While engineering is a highly technical field, it's important to recognize the value of leadership roles in preserving a culture of innovation. By taking on these positions, you can help ensure that companies prioritize long-term innovation over short-term gains (cutting R&D to boost the balance sheet), thus preserving the engineering culture that drives meaningful progress.
What Process Engineering Supervisor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yi Yang PhD: In the next 3-5 years, I believe management skills will become increasingly important. Engineers who can bridge the gap between technical complexity and business strategy, driving innovation and growth in their organizations will be very valuable.
What soft skills should all Process Engineering Supervisors possess?
Casey DeRoo Ph.D.: The ability to understand the people on your team and allocate project work accordingly is important. In this role, you may find that you "step back" from the day-to-day of engineering and coordinate work on a project across multiple individuals with unique outlooks and skillsets. Recognize that "one size doesn't fit all" when it comes to management. Harnessing the make-up or the desired professional goals of your team to accomplish your assigned projects leads to better outcomes and productivity. Many skilled engineers lack leadership skills, so highlight these on your resume or during your interview if you have applicable experience.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Casey DeRoo Ph.D.: For a large company, familiarity with work management software is essential. Tasks are assigned, issues are noted, and effort tracked/billed all through these kinds of platforms. As Operations Manager, you'll be the one checking to ensure all tasks are assigned and are completed in a timely fashion, and may even be the one breaking up a project into initial tasks first.
What skills will help Process Engineering Supervisors earn the most?
Casey DeRoo Ph.D.: Pay tends to scale with project team size or complexity of the budget managed. Showing an ability to lead large, diverse teams on projects with multiple stakeholders or manage a substantial annual budget will net you jobs with a larger starting salary.
Donald Yeung
Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education, Affiliate Professor, Computer Science DepartmentUniversity of Maryland - College Park
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
What hard/technical skills are most important for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Donald Yeung: In terms of hard technical skills, I believe the courses students take along with their GPA in these courses is one level of demonstration. (As I mentioned above, employers know about our program probably down to specific courses, and so if someone gets an A+ in some notoriously challenging course, that's probably known and appreciated). Some employers will give technical interviews and require students to solve problems on their feet. But I think most employers will judge this based on a student's transcript.
What skills will help Process Engineering Supervisors earn the most?
Donald Yeung: Finally, in terms of compensation, I believe the Computer Engineering degree in our department garners the highest average starting salary across the entire UMD campus. The Electrical Engineering degree is not far behind. I don't know if specific skills within ECE garner more pay. But I can say that these days, Data Science (i.e., Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence) is the fastest-growing field, probably bar none. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, I think, puts the growth in this field at around 30% from now until 2026. I would expect the starting salaries in these jobs to be the very highest. So, perhaps having a background in Data Science and Machine Learning might get you a higher-paying job. But I also think it's dangerous for students to look at such statistics to guide what courses they take today (elective courses, that is). What's hot today may not be tomorrow. A career is 40 years, not the next 5 or 10 years.
What skills stand out on Process Engineering Supervisor resumes?
Donald Yeung: A degree at a highly rated engineering school is always a plus. For example, the ECE dept at UMD has a good reputation among local employers as well as employers elsewhere, such as Silicon Valley. Many of our students go to companies in these areas, and so we have a reputation based on the quality of students that go out. I think employers know what they're getting. Beyond the school from which you receive your degree, your GPA is also important. How well you do in the program you come from is important, too, obviously. And employers also know about grade inflation or deflation at different schools, so they can calibrate any student's GPA against what experience they've had with previous students' records. Besides that, employers also look for experience outside of the degree program, so internships, research experiences, any significant project experience, etc., are also a real plus.
What soft skills should all Process Engineering Supervisors possess?
Donald Yeung: In terms of soft skills, communication is by far the most important, I would think. This could be ascertained during the interview process. Also, being able to work in a team is a plus, too. This might be demonstrable from large project experiences. For example, our students participate in teaming projects outside of the ECE program like Terp Racing, Hyperloop project, etc. This could demonstrate a student's exposure to working on large teams.
Yasser Dessouky
Professor and ChairSan Jose State University
Industrial and Systems Engineering
What skills stand out on Process Engineering Supervisor resumes?
Yasser Dessouky: Besides being very comfortable with various professional social-media platforms, the new engineering students must embrace developing their skills in artificial intelligence and data science techniques. Besides being an excellent team member, today's remote world requires engineers to have independent problem-solving skills for a career to thrive.
Dr. John Ballato
J. E. Sirrine Endowed Chair and ProfessorClemson University
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
What soft skills should all Process Engineering Supervisors possess?
Dr. John Ballato: To me, the most important soft skill has always been communication. And, due to the pandemic where people have had to isolate and possibly quarantine, effective communications are even that much more critical. We're spending less face-to-face time and more screen-to-screen time, which gets boring quickly. So, paying attention, being clear and concise in your communications since you don't have the opportunities as often now to simply walk into someone's lab or office and talk through ideas and next steps. Effective communications are also especially important in materials science and engineering because our field is innately interdisciplinary. This means that you might be the only materials scientist on a team that includes marketing, sales, manufacturing, etc. Knowing your audience, including your project team, and learning how to communicate with them is critical.
What skills stand out on Process Engineering Supervisor resumes?
Dr. John Ballato: The phrase "well rounded" may be getting old, but it's still true. We like to see graduates who didn't just go to class but worked in a laboratory or did a co-op/internship and had various extra-curricular activities, both personal and professional. Remember that materials science and engineering are leveraging computer science more and more, whether through atomistic or microstructural modeling or newer technologies such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). So having some familiarity with those and how they complement experimental/hands-on studies are helpful.
Another point about skills that stand out is a simple one - do your homework. There are few things more irritating than receiving a resume or email asking for a job, and the student clearly didn't care enough to look up what we do. The resume is a copy and paste and isn't personalized to the specific position, Group, or company. That stands out like a sore thumb.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Dr. John Ballato: Important hard/technical skills really depend on the nature of the job/position and the organization. This really relates back to the What Skills Stand Out question. Employers want to know that employees have the requisite "toolbox" of basic skills and a willingness and aptitude to learn on the job. No person comes out of school with all the skills and experiences needed for a given job, so organizations inevitably continue to provide training on product-specific skills. Knowing how to learn, wanting to learn, and admitting what you don't know are as important, if not more so, than any hard/technical skills one gains during their education.
What skills will help Process Engineering Supervisors earn the most?
Dr. John Ballato: Here, too, the answer depends on the field, job position (and location), and organization. MSE graduates generally are well compensated compared to other engineering fields. The most important thing is that you wake up every morning and are excited about the work you're doing. There's no substitute for enjoying your work, regardless of how much you are paid.
What technical skills for a Process Engineering Supervisor stand out to employers?
Robert Williams Ph.D.: Modeling, simulation, CAD software; problem solving; design based on analysis and experiment; computer skills; the ability to learn new software.
Tristan Ericson Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorYork College of Pennsylvania
Civil and Mechanical Engineering
How have salaries changed over time for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Tristan Ericson Ph.D.: There has been gradual growth over time for engineering salaries. In certain industry sectors the pandemic has stalled that growth with some employees getting no increases or taking pay cuts over the past year. I expect that, emerging from the pandemic, engineers will see growth in earning opportunities, especially in new development sectors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineering Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
Tristan Ericson Ph.D.: Engineering jobs will still be available. Some companies are struggling in the pandemic, but some are thriving. Our students are still able to find co-ops, and our graduates are still finding jobs. The market has slowed a bit, but not as much as I expected. Rather, we see a shift in job availability as the need for different technologies changes. Most of our summer 2020 graduating seniors found jobs. It took more time for some of them to secure employment than typical, but their ultimate success rate was higher than I would have anticipated in such an uncertain time. Going forward, I think the need for engineering jobs will gradually increase to levels higher than pre-pandemic. Consider the Biden administration's ambitious infrastructure goals. These alone will place increased demand on engineering, but they are also a broader indicator of society's increased need for innovation and product development. The push for vehicle electrification will provide many new job opportunities in that staple industry.
What technical skills for a Process Engineering Supervisor stand out to employers?
Patrick Atkinson: Broadly speaking, employers are looking for employees who can jump in, take on a project and move things forward. Since engineers are data-driven, knowing how to read and interpret findings from a variety of sources is key. This can be very challenging if the data conflicts between sources or the data is unclear. Whether the data is from a mathematical model, a physical test laboratory, or from the field, learning how to synthesize the findings and balance the strengths/weaknesses of a given data source are key. At the end of the day, every project needs a way forward and it is the engineer's job to optimize a design to meet the objectives for the product.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineering Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
William Cross Ph.D.: The biggest job market trends given the pandemic are working from home, and slightly delayed hiring - in Metallurgical Engineering at SD Mines, it took about 9-12 months for our Spring 2020 graduates to be hired to levels that took less than three months pre-pandemic, although eventually most of our graduates have been placed. The Fall 2020 graduates have seen a similar delay.
I expect some of the work from home will remain into the future, but do not expect the delayed hiring to extend for too much longer. I also expect that in some fields the pandemic has accelerated trends towards greater automation of job functions.
What soft skills should all Process Engineering Supervisors possess?
William Cross Ph.D.: The soft skills that all graduates should possess are primarily in communication - speaking/writing clearly, and listening/reading comprehension - and in teamwork skills. Being able to function in a variety of roles on a team is very important to success in many jobs.
How have salaries changed over time for Process Engineering Supervisors?
William Cross Ph.D.: This of course depends on the time range to which the question refers. Over the last 4-5 years salaries have been rather flat on average going by SD Mines graduates in Metallurgical Engineering, although this is working off a rather high baseline. SD Mines has been recognized as the top engineering schools in the nation for return on investment, and Metallugical Engineering has an above average starting salary for SD Mines at around $65,000/year.
Andriy Voronov
ProfessorNorth Dakota State University
Coatings and Polymeric Materials Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Engineering Supervisors?
Andriy Voronov: Since pandemic is not over yet, there may be only a guess on how significant this impact can be. I think answering this question resonates with more general one, namely, "Will our life after COVID-19 be the same as before?" We all want to be positive about that but are just not certain. Moreover, I think in some professional aspects in most fields, changes are unavoidable. Working from home, attending virtual conferences, taking part in Zoom meetings, even virtual get together with colleagues will most probably remain to be a new post-pandemic working routine, by all advantages and disadvantages this may bring to most recent graduates. Speaking about materials science, I hope and do believe that there will be global and impactful factors other than coronavirus pandemic, such as novel materials trends, technological innovations etc., to take into account for graduates.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Andriy Voronov: I think most graduate programs in materials science offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and educational activities. Their philosophy is to educate and prepare job prospects by providing advanced aspects of work, including extensive collaborations between departments, programs, institutions or with industrial partners. Offering specialized trainings in various areas, graduate programs aim to merge basic and applied research within the certain field. With this said, quit often graduate programs work also with leading industrial scientists who help to provide to the graduates new and practical directions to become competitive at the job market. Answering your question more specifically, graduate programs do target as complementary and comprehensive education as possible. It will be interesting to hear from graduates what courses they took have the biggest impact for them, as well as if they need any additional certifications/licenses and which specifically.
How have salaries changed over time for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Andriy Voronov: Being materials scientist means being able to do lot of things starting from fundamental research on material properties and characterization up to developing entirely new formulations and modify them to make new products suitable for new applications. One should be prepared to work in research lab, but also in pilot plants, as well as in manufacturing facilities. As for the soft skills, those are critical thinking, problem solving, communication, written and oral, including ability to communicate science to scientists, but also nonscientific audience, also flexibility and adaptability in (always) willing to learn. Although not a soft skill, but rather technical one, do not forget about fundamental knowledge and understanding of materials specifics and properties one works with.
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Mechanical & Materials EngineeringUniversity of Denver
Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Process Engineering Supervisors?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think so. At least for a couple years.
What's a good job out of college for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I think any technical job is a good job for engineers. You build experience, ideally in an area of interest, making it easier to get your next job.
What will help Process Engineering Supervisors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matt Howard Gordon Ph.D.: I stress outside the class experiences - internships, undergraduate research, and/or study abroad. I believe all help with earning potential. And maybe students should consider getting their PE.
Ronald Bucinell Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical EngineersUnion College
Department of Mechanical Engineering
What soft skills should all Process Engineering Supervisors possess?
Ronald Bucinell Ph.D.: To be a good designer you need to have a human center perspective. What I mean is that you need to understand problems beyond the technical specifications. Being a human-centered engineer requires breath in education, a strong liberal arts component to an engineer's education. Engineering professionals are constantly selling their ideas to clients, employers, and colleagues, written and oral communication are critical to a successful career as an engineer.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Process Engineering Supervisors?
Bruce Gale Ph.D.: Any engineering degree is a good one. Adding certifications related to software is a big plus. A systems certificate is important to large government contractors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineering Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
Steven Fernandez: No sure, with respect to mechanical engineering there is so many variables as to what new trends ME grads can experience. One of the greatest challenges Mechanical Engineering students face is the broadness of the field of study they have chosen. Surprisingly, many ME grads find themselves at a bit of a loss as to what carrier path to choose when they finally get their degree. As a mechanical engineer you can be designing anything from a supersonic missile, to a food processing line, in multiple functions. Mechanical engineers can be project engineers, design engineers, operation engineers, or manufacturing engineers with all options in just one industrial field. Each industrial field is affected differently by the pandemic. Take Space X, Google, Amazon, and Raytheon which are all industries ME's work in. These company seem to be doing the same if not better during the pandemic. How about the bicycle industry? With more families at home looking for activities there is a backlog of bicycles as the manufacturers cannot keep up with the orders. Try and order a NordicTrack treadmill, or a concept-2 rowing machine and you will be put on a waiting list due to the shortage of supply. Mechanical engineers work in all these industries. On the flip side look at some industries tied to travel and vacation. Yes, Boeing took a hit because of their 737 planes being grounded, but also because of the massive decrease in flight travel. So, all that said, I would say the pandemic trend for now would follow the course as such; industries which are negatively affected due to the loss of public activities will continue to struggle or have slow growth, while other industries where the mass public has been redirected will flourish and grow.
What type of skills will young Process Engineering Supervisors need?
Matthew Barry Ph.D.: There are many skills young graduates will need when entering the workforce in the coming years. One of the most important is the use of software, particularly Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in any platform (SolidWorks, CATIA, Autodesk, etc.). CAD is ubiquitous in most engineering jobs and is used by most employees, from draftsmen and machinists to engineers. Students that can proficiently use CAD for constructing parts, models, to set up tooling (such as CAMWorks), construct PCBs, and to do basic analyses (such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA), vibrational analyses and the like) have a tremendous hiring advantage over students that lack these skills. Additionally, students that have experience and proficiency with FEA and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software are in high demand. Finally, in terms of software, students that are able to code (and it doesn't matter what language or software, whether its MATLAB, C, C++, Java, Python) are needed. Most companies develop their own in-house codes and routines to do basic, repetitive tasks, or to develop models that are used in design and analysis. Being able to code is a highly desirable skill. Lastly, students should have some skills and experiences when it comes to hands-on activities. Being a modern engineer requires being able to not only design and analyze something, but to be able to figure out the tooling, assembly, and repair of various components. Having hands-on experience, whether it is with electrical circuitry, machining physical parts, or printing and assembling prototypes, indicates high levels of spatial reasoning, and is a sought after skill by employers.
What experience really stands out on Process Engineering Supervisor resumes?
Matthew Barry Ph.D.: What really stands out on a resume to me is anything related to hands-on experience. I honestly prefer students and potential employees that have hands-on experience and ok grade point averages (GPAs) compared to students with high GPAs and no hands-on experience. And this hands-on experience does not have to come from internships or co-ops, but could be the result of participating in clubs, or being part of a Makerspace, either as a mentor, or a user.
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry Program Coordinator, Assistant ChairUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Sciences and Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Engineering Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Chemistry graduates can work in a broad spectrum of fields: education, government agencies, research laboratories, and industry (oil, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical), and these jobs should still be viable options to Chemistry majors, even during the pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, I anticipate a greater number of opportunities arising in the pharmaceutical industry and the drug discovery field.
What skills stand out on Process Engineering Supervisor resumes?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Apart from a good foundation in the chemistry discipline, skills that will stand out on resumes include: experience in various analytical techniques, excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, ability to work collaboratively (team player), and the ability to think critically to find solutions to problems (problem solving). Another valuable skill nowadays would be to be competent in the use of technology for communication purposes (Zoom, etc.).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Process Engineering Supervisors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Maria Benavides Ph.D.: Texas is a good place for Chemistry graduates, particularly the city of Houston, which houses the largest medical center in the world, and the largest petroleum industry hub in the world. Most of our graduates find employment in the oil industry but also in those companies that provide services to the petroleum industry, such as chemical supply, waste disposal, chemical safety, etc. Our graduates also find employment in the medical research field, in research labs such as the famous UT Anderson Cancer Center.