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The differences between controls design engineers and project 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 engineer. Additionally, a controls design engineer has an average salary of $90,850, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a controls design engineer include autocad, PLC and CAD. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Controls design engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a controls design engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |