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The differences between product support engineers and process 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 support engineer, becoming a process engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a product support engineer has an average salary of $90,379, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a product support engineer include product support, technical support and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Product Support Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,379 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $43.45 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 201,554 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A product support engineer is responsible for resolving technical issues of end-users regarding the products and services offered by the company. Product support engineers conduct troubleshooting operations for system failures and write resolution reports for reference. They also support the product analysts in improving the product's features and processes to prevent the reoccurrence of defects and maintain optimal performance. A product support engineer designs automation procedures and runs multiple diagnostic tests to ensure high-quality outputs and avoid operational delays.
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.
Product support engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Support Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,379 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $121,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product support engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product Support Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between product support engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Product Support Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.7% Female, 19.3% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 13.0% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 4% |