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The differences between control systems engineers and automation 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 control systems engineer, becoming an automation engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a control systems engineer has an average salary of $92,727, which is higher than the $92,597 average annual salary of an automation engineer.
The top three skills for a control systems engineer include PLC, HMI and C++. The most important skills for an automation engineer are python, java, and PLC.
| Control Systems Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,727 | $92,597 |
| Hourly rate | $44.58 | $44.52 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 133,220 | 133,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.
Control systems engineers and automation engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Control Systems Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,727 | $92,597 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $118,000 | Between $70,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a control systems engineer and an automation engineer in terms of educational background:
| Control Systems Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between control systems engineers' and automation engineers' demographics:
| Control Systems Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |