Process scientist vs process engineering manager

The differences between process scientists and process engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a process scientist, becoming a process engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a process engineering manager has an average salary of $124,640, which is higher than the $92,203 average annual salary of a process scientist.

The top three skills for a process scientist include chemistry, GMP and cell culture. The most important skills for a process engineering manager are project management, sigma, and lean manufacturing.

Process scientist vs process engineering manager overview

	Process Scientist	Process Engineering Manager
Yearly salary	$92,203	$124,640
Hourly rate	$44.33	$59.92
Growth rate	17%	2%
Number of jobs	67,699	87,396
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	41	48
Years of experience	4	-

What does a process scientist do?

In a manufacturing environment, a process scientist is primarily in charge of developing products and procedures, ensuring quality and efficiency. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify market and client needs, gathering and analyzing extensive data, assessing existing practices to determine its strengths and weaknesses, improving vulnerable areas, and monitoring the progress of all operations, implementing solutions as necessary. Aside from performing various experiments for product development, a process scientist may also collaborate with other experts and train junior scientists in the joint effort to deliver quality products and services to clients.

What does a process engineering manager do?

A process engineering manager is responsible for evaluating the production and manufacturing processes and identify areas of improvement to enhance the quality of deliverables and maximize the staff's productivity. Process engineering managers develop cost-efficient techniques and resources that would meet the budget limitations and business requirements. They also handle the resolution for process failures and coordinate with the process engineers for immediate solutions to avoid its reoccurrence. A process engineering manager must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills, especially in determining opportunities that would enhance efficiency and result in more outputs.

Process scientist vs process engineering manager salary

Process scientists and process engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Process Scientist	Process Engineering Manager
Average salary	$92,203	$124,640
Salary range	Between $68,000 And $124,000	Between $94,000 And $165,000
Highest paying City	Novato, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Tennessee	California
Best paying company	Amazon	Emergent BioSolutions
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between process scientist and process engineering manager education

There are a few differences between a process scientist and a process engineering manager in terms of educational background:

	Process Scientist	Process Engineering Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Chemistry	Chemical Engineering
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Process scientist vs process engineering manager demographics

Here are the differences between process scientists' and process engineering managers' demographics:

	Process Scientist	Process Engineering Manager
Average age	41	48
Gender ratio	Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3%	Male, 85.7% Female, 14.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%	Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 12.7% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	8%	9%

Differences between process scientist and process engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Process scientist example responsibilities.

Ensure FDA compliance and minimal negative impact for all projects by managing change control documentation and procedures.
Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
Participate in technical transfer activities of API's.
Champion site compliance activities while under FDA consent decree.
Install, qualify, and validate instruments for GMP use.
Optimize solvent ratios and isolation procedures leading to increase API yield.

Process engineering manager example responsibilities.

Manage QA for research orient development efforts and for high visibility, production focuse development efforts tie to revenue generation.
Support FDA regulatory and ISO requirements with QA department through process engineering and support of CAPA program.
Pioneer SPC program including implementation of methodologies for corrective action.
Ensure water systems are OSHA compliant.
Implement plant wide remediation plan to comply with FDA requirements.
Design, contract fabrication and testing of OSHA compliant safety harness anchors.

Process scientist vs process engineering manager skills

Common process scientist skills

Chemistry, 15%
GMP, 13%
Cell Culture, 12%
Technical Reports, 4%
HPLC, 4%
Harvest, 3%

Common process engineering manager skills

Project Management, 9%
Sigma, 8%
Lean Manufacturing, 6%
Lean Six Sigma, 6%
R, 4%
Direct Reports, 3%

Process Scientist vs. similar jobs

Process Scientist related careers

Process Scientist related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Life, Physical, and Social Science Industry
Process Scientist
Process Scientist vs Process Engineering Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs