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The differences between project lead engineers and process engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a project lead engineer and a process engineer. Additionally, a project lead engineer has an average salary of $106,946, which is higher than the $82,443 average annual salary of a process engineer.
The top three skills for a project lead engineer include project management, renewable energy and project execution. The most important skills for a process engineer are continuous improvement, sigma, and lean manufacturing.
| Project Lead Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,946 | $82,443 |
| Hourly rate | $51.42 | $39.64 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 98,018 | 66,937 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Project lead engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for leading other professionals in completing a particular project. These engineers must develop a project management framework to be implemented throughout the organization based on the inputs from internal stakeholders and team members. They are required to train junior team members so that they can provide proper technical support functions. Project lead engineers must also prepare and review cost estimates for a variety of projects during bidding, construction, and post-construction phases.
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.
Project lead engineers and process engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Lead Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,946 | $82,443 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $146,000 | Between $62,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Rio Rancho, NM |
| Highest paying state | California | New Mexico |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project lead engineer and a process engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Lead Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between project lead engineers' and process engineers' demographics:
| Project Lead Engineer | Process Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 15.2% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 4% | 4% |