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The differences between process safety engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a process safety engineer, becoming a process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a process safety engineer has an average salary of $84,412, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a process safety engineer include safety management, OSHA and risk management. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Process Safety Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,412 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $40.58 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 38,650 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A process safety engineer is responsible for conducting quality check procedures for the operational processes of the manufacturing and construction industries. Process safety engineers analyze practices to ensure that the methodologies adhere to safety standards and state regulations. They also inspect the tools and materials used, the budget needed for production, and timetables to strategize efficient ways in minimizing costs and risks. A process safety engineer records the process findings and suggests technical solutions to maximize productivity.
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.
Process safety engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Safety Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,412 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $129,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Orange, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | California Resources | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process safety engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Safety Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Chemical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process safety engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Process Safety Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.0% Female, 23.0% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 12.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |