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The differences between controls design engineers and project controls 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 project controls engineer. Additionally, a controls design engineer has an average salary of $90,850, which is higher than the $86,685 average annual salary of a project controls engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a project controls engineer are project controls, project management, and construction management.
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $86,685 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $41.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 38,974 |
| 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.
A Project Controls Engineer creates project cost reports and progress charts. These professionals interpret the company contract and deal with the existing cost control database and financial risk. Project Controls Engineers reconcile and organize the project cost information with the clients' status reports. Also, they evaluate cash flow reports and project cost reports prepared by CMA.
Controls design engineers and project controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $86,685 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $63,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a project controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and project controls engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |