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The differences between project engineers and production 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 project engineer, becoming a production engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a production engineer has an average salary of $89,727, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a project engineer include project management, autocad and construction management. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Project Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
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.
Project engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 4% |