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The differences between production engineers and equipment engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a production engineer, becoming an equipment engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an equipment engineer has an average salary of $97,539, which is higher than the $89,727 average annual salary of a production engineer.
The top three skills for a production engineer include java, continuous improvement and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for an equipment engineer are equipment performance, semiconductor, and project management.
| Production Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,727 | $97,539 |
| Hourly rate | $43.14 | $46.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 94,789 | 108,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A production engineer is responsible for monitoring the production operations, ensuring everyone's adherence to safety protocols, and evaluating the staff's performance, strategizing on maximizing productivity to deliver efficient results that would drive revenues and increase profitability. Production engineers inspect the reliability of production equipment and machinery, conducting preventive maintenance, and repair inconsistencies to prevent production delays. They also identify areas of improvement with the manufacturing processes and escalate best practices for improvement. A production engineer must be knowledgeable about technological advancements and incorporate ideas to minimize costs without sacrificing the quality of services.
The duties of an equipment engineer depend on one's organization or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around designing and developing mechanical and electronic equipment, analyzing and improving existing systems, performing customization according to customers' preferences, installing and removing attachments, and conducting regular maintenance procedures. An equipment engineer must also address issues and complaints, providing corrective measures promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with team members and other specialists, inspect and test new systems, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Production engineers and equipment engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Production Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average salary | $89,727 | $97,539 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $125,000 | Between $69,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Louisiana |
| Best paying company | Cheniere Energy | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between a production engineer and an equipment engineer in terms of educational background:
| Production Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between production engineers' and equipment engineers' demographics:
| Production Engineer | Equipment Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 15.1% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |