Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between controls design engineers and 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 an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, 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 an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Controls Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| 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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Controls design engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |