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The differences between process improvement consultants 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 improvement consultant and a process improvement engineer. Additionally, a process improvement consultant has an average salary of $88,903, which is higher than the $82,473 average annual salary of a process improvement engineer.
The top three skills for a process improvement consultant include lean six sigma, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for a process improvement engineer are lean six sigma, sigma, and project management.
| Process Improvement Consultant | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,903 | $82,473 |
| Hourly rate | $42.74 | $39.65 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 86,144 | 55,438 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A process improvement consultant is responsible for evaluating the current operational processes, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and developing strategic techniques to improve procedures, increasing maximum productivity with a cost-reduction approach. Process improvement consultants analyze the project management policies of the department, facilitate process training for the employees, and search for business opportunities that would generate more resources for revenues and profits. They write progress update reports and discuss with management, as well as present data analysis findings from the company's market performance.
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 improvement consultants and process improvement engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Improvement Consultant | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average salary | $88,903 | $82,473 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $118,000 | Between $62,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Pacific Gas and Electric | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process improvement consultant and a process improvement engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Improvement Consultant | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between process improvement consultants' and process improvement engineers' demographics:
| Process Improvement Consultant | Process Improvement Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.5% 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 | 12% | 4% |