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The differences between controls 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 controls design engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a control systems engineer has an average salary of $92,727, which is higher than the $90,850 average annual salary of a controls design engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.
| Controls Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $92,727 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $44.58 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 133,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
It is the responsibility of a controls design engineer to research and design a company's new systems and products. Controls design engineers oversee the production of complicated equipment and systems. They perform tests and analyze the design use associated with the system's element function. Part of their job is to seek consistent system results and operation within specific tolerances. They also draft blueprints, oversee manufacturing processes, and establish test prototypes.
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.
Controls design engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $92,727 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $72,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% 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% |