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The differences between process improvement engineers and quality control 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 engineer and a quality control engineer. Additionally, a process improvement engineer has an average salary of $82,473, which is higher than the $70,845 average annual salary of a quality control engineer.
The top three skills for a process improvement engineer include lean six sigma, sigma and project management. The most important skills for a quality control engineer are product quality, quality standards, and corrective action.
| Process Improvement Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,473 | $70,845 |
| Hourly rate | $39.65 | $34.06 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 55,438 | 109,745 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results. They also identify opportunities for more services that meet public demands and market trends, helping the business generate more resources for revenues. A quality control engineer utilizes various software tools and applications to document findings, requiring them to have excellent communication and technical skills.
Process improvement engineers and quality control engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Improvement Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,473 | $70,845 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $109,000 | Between $53,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Meta | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process improvement engineer and a quality control engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Improvement Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | New York University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between process improvement engineers' and quality control engineers' demographics:
| Process Improvement Engineer | Quality Control Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% | Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |