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Production Process Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Production Process Engineer I make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Production Process Engineer I in the United States is $79,060 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Production Process Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,580
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,590 to $85,090
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,699
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,590 10% $66,699 90% $90,580 75% $85,090 $79,060 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Production Process Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $85,090 $7,091 $1,636 $41
Average $79,060 $6,588 $1,520 $38
25th Percentile $72,590 $6,049 $1,396 $35
Check out Production Process Engineer I Job Openings in the United States
Mechanical Process Engineer

Phillips Tube Group, Inc. - Middletown, OH

Process Improvement Engineer

Nesco Resource - South Point, OH

Wastewater Engineer

Synthica Energy - Cincinnati, OH

Chemical Process Engineer

Hunter Recruiting - Cleveland, OH

Search More Production Process Engineer I Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Production Process Engineer I Salaries

A Production Process Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Production Process Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Production Process Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Production Process Engineer I (0-2 years): $79,060
  • Intermediate Manufacturing Engineer (2-4 years): $89,633
  • Senior Manufacturing Engineer (4-7 years): $103,174
  • Specialist/Lead Manufacturing Engineer (7+ years): $125,845
  • Principal/Expert Manufacturing Engineer (7-10 years): $144,610
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Production Process Engineer I0-2 years$79,060
Intermediate Manufacturing Engineer2-4 years$89,633
Senior Manufacturing Engineer4-7 years$103,174
Specialist/Lead Manufacturing Engineer7+ years$125,845
Principal/Expert Manufacturing Engineer7-10 years$144,610
$79,060 Productio...
$89,633 Intermedi...
$103,174 Senior Ma...
$125,845 Specialis...
$144,610 Principal...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Production Process Engineer Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $99,720
  • San Francisco: $98,740
  • Oakland: $96,550

What Skills Can Increase a Production Process Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Standard Operating Procedures (Mentioned in 4.07% Job Postings): A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Standard Operating Procedures 4.07%
Continuous Improvement 3.07%
Lean 1.88%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Production Process Engineer I's salary.
  • Chromatography: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Manufacturing Equipment: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Chromatography
$90,919
15%
Biotechnology
$83,804
6%
Manufacturing Equipment
$83,804
6%
ISO
$81,432
3%
Collaboration
$81,432
3%
Process Improvement
$81,432
3%
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Production Process Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Production Process Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Production Process Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Production Process Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Production Process Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Biologics Manufacturing Engineer II $97,100 23%
Manufacturing Execution System Engineer II $94,600 20%
Intermediate Manufacturing Engineer $89,640 13%
Engineer, Experienced - Production $89,700 13%

Salary Trends for Production Process Engineer I

Salaries for a Production Process Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $68,679 in 2023 to around $68,694 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Production Process Engineer I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Production Process Engineer I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$68,679
2024
$68,907
2025
$68,694
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $68,679
2024 $68,907
2025 $68,694
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Production Process Engineer I

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Production Process Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Production Process Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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