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Product development engineer vs packaging engineer

The differences between product development engineers and packaging engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a product development engineer, becoming a packaging engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a packaging engineer has an average salary of $88,452, which is higher than the $86,075 average annual salary of a product development engineer.

The top three skills for a product development engineer include CAD, solidworks and product development. The most important skills for a packaging engineer are CAD, project management, and solidworks.

Product development engineer vs packaging engineer overview

Product Development EngineerPackaging Engineer
Yearly salary$86,075$88,452
Hourly rate$41.38$42.52
Growth rate2%10%
Number of jobs202,15554,028
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4142
Years of experience64

What does a product development engineer do?

A Product Development Engineer is responsible for creating and testing new product designs. They collaborate with market researchers to evaluate market needs, existing competition, and potential costs.

What does a packaging engineer do?

A Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.

Product development engineer vs packaging engineer salary

Product development engineers and packaging engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Product Development EngineerPackaging Engineer
Average salary$86,075$88,452
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $113,000Between $65,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CitySunnyvale, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonApple
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between product development engineer and packaging engineer education

There are a few differences between a product development engineer and a packaging engineer in terms of educational background:

Product Development EngineerPackaging Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorMechanical EngineeringEngineering And Industrial Management
Most common collegeMichigan Technological UniversityNorthwestern University

Product development engineer vs packaging engineer demographics

Here are the differences between product development engineers' and packaging engineers' demographics:

Product Development EngineerPackaging Engineer
Average age4142
Gender ratioMale, 86.8% Female, 13.2%Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.1% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage5%4%

Differences between product development engineer and packaging engineer duties and responsibilities

Product development engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage design control including FMEA risk analysis, surgeon clinical input documentation, design verification and validation activities.
  • Manage project from conceptual design through final debugging and animal/clinical testing resulting in a new business unit within the company.
  • Create java test template design to vary equation specs and loop pattern bursts.
  • Develop and maintain websites in HTML, CSS and JAVA script by writing, debugging, and testing.
  • Set up, troubleshot and maintain the Linux and Unix machines used in the development, build and test of ADINA.
  • Participate in engineering DFMEA activities.
  • Show more

Packaging engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage UAT testing of App-V/Thin-App applications.
  • Manage implementation and changes using FDA compliant documentation and change management processes.
  • Manage Linux staging and testing environments and also automate application packaging and deployments.
  • Manage packaging redesign project to maintain compliance with current FDA regulations for medical device packaging.
  • Manage in-house process, which include art direction, copy/editorial development, photography, and print production management for domestic/international market.
  • Develop windows application in c #to process customer and policy information.
  • Show more

Product development engineer vs packaging engineer skills

Common product development engineer skills
  • CAD, 6%
  • Solidworks, 5%
  • Product Development, 5%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • Data Analysis, 4%
  • Product Design, 4%
Common packaging engineer skills
  • CAD, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Solidworks, 7%
  • ASTM, 5%
  • Package Design, 5%
  • ISTA, 4%

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