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The differences between controls design engineers and mechanical design 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 mechanical design engineer. Additionally, a controls design engineer has an average salary of $90,850, which is higher than the $75,821 average annual salary of a mechanical design engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a mechanical design engineer are CAD, mechanical design, and GD.
| Controls Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $75,821 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $36.45 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 120,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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.
A mechanical design engineer specializes in designing various mechanical devices that will be vital in developing machinery or large structures. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around conducting thorough research and analysis, establishing layouts and prototypes, producing progress reports, and working alongside fellow engineers and skilled professionals. Typically assigned in an office setting, a mechanical design engineer must visit construction sites or factories to test and observe equipment qualities. Furthermore, during production, there are instances when a mechanical engineer must coordinate with suppliers, contractors, and clients.
Controls design engineers and mechanical design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $75,821 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $59,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a mechanical design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Mechanical Design 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 | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and mechanical design engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Mechanical Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 91.9% Female, 8.1% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 16.4% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |