A process engineer plans, manages, evaluates, and implements procedures that effectively produce goods or provide services. A process engineer's mission is to design systems that efficiently utilize employees, supplies, equipment, data, and energy. A wide range of industries, including manufacturing, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology, use processes designed by process engineers. They examine workflows, design requirements, production schedules, and other data to comprehend and improve the processes used by their firm. If you want to learn about the process engineer salary, we have listed everything that you need to know about it. You can avail expert guidance from proper Quality Management courses.
Who is a Process Engineer?
A process engineer is an expert who knows all about the machines, procedures, and products used in the manufacturing plant for making finished goods from raw materials. They frequently need a combination of intellectual and administrative abilities because they ensure that factories, plants, and other production facilities run efficiently.
The tasks of a process engineer are:
- equipment testing, monitoring, and maintenance, including performing routine tests to ensure equipment complies with established standards
- evaluating, quoting, and helping with the procurement of new machinery
- changing the process flow in the factory or plant or developing new equipment as needed
- creating, changing, and supervising procedures to ensure maximum output and minimal production-line failures
- monitoring the plant's functioning
- monitoring the workers' safety
- creating, keeping, and gathering the paperwork needed to demonstrate adherence to safety protocols
- gathering and analyzing data on budgets and efficiency to present to upper executives
- examining every aspect and stage of the manufacturing process to reduce costs, boost output, and improve the production line
Process Engineer Salary in 2024
The demand for process engineers has started to grow in many industries. There are many factors that affect a process engineer salary. Here we will be discussing process engineer pay based on their work experience.
Process Engineer Salary: Based on Experience
One of the major things on which the process engineer’s salary depends is the individual's experience. Here we have drawn a comparison of how the salary changes as one gains experience:
Beginner
The entry-level process engineer salary in the US is around $73,600 per year. If you are just a beginner starting your career as a process engineer, you must check out the lSSGB Certification.
Intermediate
The US's salary for intermediate-level process engineers is around $86,300 per year.
Advanced
The senior process engineer salary in the US is around $91,559 per year.
Process Engineer Salary: Based on Location
Apart from experience, another significant factor affecting a process engineer's salary is location. The average process engineer’s salary changes according to the country, city, and company you work for. Here, we have listed the process engineer's salary in different parts of the world.
India
The average salary of a process engineer in India varies according to where the individual is working. The table below shows the salaries of process engineers in some of the major cities of India.
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: AmbitionBox) |
|---|
Gurgaon | Rs. 64,498 per month |
Hyderabad | Rs. 55,035 per month |
Pune | Rs. 30,071 per month |
Bengaluru | Rs. 47,857 per month |
Chennai | Rs. 53,256 per month |
The salary also varies depending on which company you are working for. Let us see a table for that:
| Company | Process engineer salary |
|---|
Wipro | Rs. 31,333 to Rs. 32,628 per month |
Cognizant | Rs. 24,572 to Rs. 25.992 per month |
Accenture | Rs. 29,676 to Rs. 30,995 per month |
US
The average salary of process engineers in some of the top cities of the US are as follows:
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Houston | $7,931 per month |
Dallas | $6,164 per month |
Santa Clara | $7,943 per month |
Chandler | $8,126 per month |
Boise | $6,472 per month |
Process engineer salary in some of the top companies in the US:
| Company | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Shell | $10,234 per month |
Phillips 66 | $10,158 per month |
Jacobs | $9,855 per month |
UK
The average salary of process engineers in some of the top cities of the UK:
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Runcorn | £3,869 per month |
Nottingham | £2,720 per month |
Derby | £2,701 per month |
Telford | £2,615 per month |
Blackburn | £3,092 per month |
Process engineer salary in some of the top companies in the UK:
| Company | Process engineer salary |
|---|
SSE PLC | £3,754 per month |
Synechron | £6,429 per month |
Sitec | £3,534 per month |
Australia
The average salary of process engineers in some of the top cities of Australia:
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Perth | $11,475 per month |
Brisbane | $8,091 per month |
Sydney | $8,751 per month |
Melbourne | $6,680 per month |
Carole Park | $6,698 per month |
Process engineer salary in some of the top companies in Australia:
| Company | Process engineer salary |
|---|
City of Gold Coast | $6,380 per month |
CSIRO | $6,186 per month |
Canada
The average salary of process engineers in some of the top cities of Canada:
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Calgary | $12,651 per month |
Edmonton | $8,611 per month |
Toronto | $6,093 per month |
Woodstock | $5,927 per month |
Burlington | $4,906 per month |
Process engineer salary in some of the top companies in Australia:
| Company | Process engineer salary |
|---|
York Region | $9,382 per month |
Fireball Equipment Ltd. | $6,606 per month |
BRANNON STEEL | $5,710 per month |
Singapore
The average salary of process engineers in some of the top cities of Singapore:
| City | Process engineer salary (Source: Glassdoor) |
|---|
Pasir Ris | $4,621 per month |
Ang Mo Kio | $4,419 per month |
Tanjong Pagar | $4,281 per month |
Outram | $4,044 per month |
Woodlands | $3,976 per month |
Process engineer salary in some of the top companies in Singapore:
| Company | Process engineer salary |
|---|
Micron Technology | $6,827 per month |
ExxonMobil | $6,819 per month |
PSC Biotech | $6,096 per month |
Factors Affecting Process Engineer Salary in 2024
Listed below are some of the factors that are going to affect the salary of process engineers:
1. Process Engineer salary Based on Location
Your location is one of the first things that impact your salary as a process engineer. This is because some parts of the States are where the big companies are located where you will be offered higher pay. However, if you are located in an area where few companies hire process engineers, that will reduce your income.
In the US, if you are working as a process engineer in Texas, your average salary per annum will be $101,585. Whereas, if you are located in Seattle, your salary will range around $127,640 per annum.
2. Process Engineer salary Based on Industry / Employer / Company
Depending on which company you work for, your salary will change. Let us draw a comparison. If you are a process engineer at the company Bayer, your average salary per annum will be approximately $112,845. On the other hand, if you work for Intel Corporation, you will be offered $122,425 per annum.
3. Process Engineer salary Based on Experience
With experience, your salary as a process engineer increases. The junior process engineer salary in the US with around 1 or 2 years of experience is almost $84,188. However, as an intermediate-level process engineer with 3 to 5 years of experience, an individual is offered an average salary of $96,402.
4. Process Engineer salary Based on Demand and Supply
Demand and supply are the economic principles that govern all aspects of the economy, including employment. Process engineers will be paid more if there is a strong demand for their expertise and a low supply. However, if supply and demand are imbalanced, those in this profession will be paid less.
5. Process Engineer salary Based on Certifications
Apart from getting an undergraduate degree, certificates are another factor that will help you land a better job as a process engineer. Certificates will help you learn about the market and prepare you for the industry. Check out the Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, which will make you industry ready.
6. Process Engineer salary Based on Skills
In order to become a successful process engineer, you must have specific skills that will help you excel in the job role. Some skills that a process engineer must have are as follows:
- Exceptional analytical and mathematical abilities
- Strong communication skills, both in writing and speaking
- Ability to influence others to change their behavior
- Exceptional attention to detail, proven ability to recognize, evaluate, and resolve issues
- Excellent computer and information technology skills
- Knowledge of software systems for process engineering
- Knowledge of the relevant health and safety laws
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How to Improve Process Engineer Salary?
The salary of a process engineer depends on a lot of factors. If you are working in the field, some of the ways you can increase your salary are the following:
1. Skills
To become a successful process engineer, there are specific skills that can help you stand out from the rest. Some of these skills are:
- CAD software
- Data analysis
- Process simulation and modeling tools
- Strong engineering principles
- QA/QC principles
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to identify and solve issues
- Strong knowledge of computer and IT
You will stand out from the crowd if you have these skills.
2. Certifications
No matter what your career is, it is mandatory to upgrade your knowledge constantly. One of the best ways to do that as a process engineer is to enroll in certificate courses. The certifications will help you land better job opportunities as well.
3. Degrees
To land a good job, every process engineer must have a basic bachelor’s degree. However, with more education comes better opportunities. Getting an advanced or master’s degree can help you get better job opportunities.
4. Experience
As it is always said, the more experience that you have, the better job you get. As a process engineer, you can start your career from the bottom of the ladder. But with time and experience, you learn skills that come in handy for your job.
Why are Process Engineers Paid So Much?
A process engineer is anything but a desk job; they are the "go-to" person who is always in demand. It's a high-intensity, practical job that requires a working knowledge of each plant's unique and complex systems. Today's process engineers deal with pretty much anything else in the manufacturing process that has moving components, including pumps, tanks, steam valves, heat exchangers, reactor vessels, distillation columns, temperature gauges, flow valves, boilers, steam pipes, conveyors, and crushers.
They are frequently among the most crucial firm employees, interacting with everyone working in the plant, from initial research and design to the manufacturing line, shift supervisors, and plant management. These are some main reasons why process engineers are offered a pretty good salary.
Jobs Similar to a Process Engineer
Process engineers' skills translate well to many fields! This table below shows similar careers with average salaries:
| Job Title | Average Salary (USD) |
| Manufacturing Engineer | $112,696 per year |
| Production Engineer | $117,303 per year |
| Chemical Engineer | $113,432 per year |
| Project Engineer | $123,970 per year |
| Quality Control Engineer | $99,460 per year |
| Process Safety Engineer | $147,001 per year |
| Plant Engineer | $134,363 per year |
| Validation Engineer | $122,662 per year |
Source: Glassdoor
Conclusion
There are numerous ways to advance in the position of process engineer. Employees can grow their knowledge and skills through CPD opportunities because of the nature of the sector. Your work as a process engineer equips you with a wide range of hard and soft skills that enable you to manage a variety of environmental, business, and technical difficulties. Again, a process engineering manager salary is a very high-paying job. This may result in promotions to senior management positions more quickly than other businesses in different industries. If you are searching for courses that will give you the upper hand in your process engineering career, check out the Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification by KnowledgeHut.
