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The differences between control systems engineers and special project 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 control systems engineer and a special project engineer. Additionally, a control systems engineer has an average salary of $92,727, which is higher than the $70,934 average annual salary of a special project engineer.
The top three skills for a control systems engineer include PLC, HMI and C++. The most important skills for a special project engineer are DOD, design changes, and engineering support.
| Control Systems Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,727 | $70,934 |
| Hourly rate | $44.58 | $34.10 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 133,220 | 90,999 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A special project engineer is in-charged in the preparation, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring of engineering projects. He/She or she should be able to establish good relationships with prospective clients to gain information on engineering requirements and delegate tasks to staff. The core skills that a special project engineer should possess include good creative ability and excellent mechanical and listening skills. Other requirements to qualify for the position include a college degree in business or mechanical engineering.
Control systems engineers and special project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Control Systems Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,727 | $70,934 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $118,000 | Between $52,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Newark, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a control systems engineer and a special project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Control Systems Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between control systems engineers' and special project engineers' demographics:
| Control Systems Engineer | Special Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |