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The differences between process technicians and process 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 technician and a process engineer. Additionally, a process engineer has an average salary of $82,443, which is higher than the $39,462 average annual salary of a process technician.
The top three skills for a process technician include basic math, patients and OSHA. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Process Technician | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,462 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $18.97 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 74,367 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A process technician is responsible for managing the equipment and machinery used for various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering. Process technicians must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating certain equipment types and making adjustments on its features as needed, depending on the needs of the operation. They also run diagnostic tests to check a machine's working condition to ensure that it's free of any inconsistencies. A process technician also helps develop structure methods by communicating with the technical team and escalating all defective findings to the supervisor.
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 technicians and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Technician | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $39,462 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $51,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | HP | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a process technician and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Process Technician | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process technicians' and process engineers' demographics:
| Process Technician | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 4% |