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The differences between controls design engineers and manufacturing 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 controls design engineer, becoming a manufacturing engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a controls design engineer has an average salary of $90,850, which is higher than the $78,522 average annual salary of a manufacturing engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a manufacturing engineer are lean manufacturing, CAD, and solidworks.
| Controls Design Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $78,522 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $37.75 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 115,384 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for handling and developing an efficient manufacturing system or procedure that will help a company produce up to standard products while in adherence to the policies, regulations, and expected cost and schedule. Furthermore, Manufacturing Engineers must also monitor quality control, identify or detect errors, provide and suggest improvements, oversee the procurement of materials involved in the production, and coordinate with various teams or departments within the company to ensure the effectiveness of innovations or new developments.
Controls design engineers and manufacturing engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $78,522 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $60,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a manufacturing engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and manufacturing engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Manufacturing Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2% |
| 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, 4.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 17.0% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |