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The differences between circuit design engineers and control systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a circuit design engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a circuit design engineer has an average salary of $107,694, which is higher than the $92,727 average annual salary of a control systems engineer.
The top three skills for a circuit design engineer include circuit design, CMOS and RF. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.
| Circuit Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,694 | $92,727 |
| Hourly rate | $51.78 | $44.58 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 70,906 | 133,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A circuit design engineer specializes in designing and developing electrical components and circuits in devices and machinery. Among their responsibilities include identifying the needs of every project, developing strategies to attain optimal quality, developing diagrams and test structures, troubleshooting, and repairing issues. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on existing systems and perform upgrades and corrective measures as needed. Moreover, a circuit design engineer typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Control systems engineers are interdisciplinary engineers managing the company's control systems. They are expected to be familiar with different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, industrial, and computer science, among others. They are responsible for designing systems based on the company's requirements. Control systems engineers must conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the company's requirements can be met. They are also responsible for developing the systems, creating prototypes, and testing. They test whether the control systems produce desired results. After testing, control systems engineers implement the system and conduct routine maintenance checks.
Circuit design engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Circuit Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $107,694 | $92,727 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $137,000 | Between $72,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Federal Way, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a circuit design engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Circuit Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between circuit design engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:
| Circuit Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.4% Female, 25.6% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 19.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |