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The differences between project field 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 field 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 $71,292 average annual salary of a project field engineer.
The top three skills for a project field engineer include shop drawings, project management and OSHA. The most important skills for a production engineer are java, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing.
| Project Field Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,292 | $89,727 |
| Hourly rate | $34.27 | $43.14 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 78,589 | 94,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Field engineers are engineering professionals who work on-site in a different setting to direct workers and report to the management about the status of different projects. These engineers are required to resolve malfunctions or other crises such as construction or machinery problems while overseeing repairs and technical improvements. They must conduct research and studies on-site and installing new systems and technology to ensure smooth operations of machinery. Field engineers must also communicate with clients to discuss and determine the needs and explain complex issues of projects.
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 field engineers and production engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Field Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average salary | $71,292 | $89,727 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $90,000 | Between $64,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oklahoma | California |
| Best paying company | OHL USA | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project field engineer and a production engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Field Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between project field engineers' and production engineers' demographics:
| Project Field Engineer | Production Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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% |