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The differences between controls design engineers and system design 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 system design engineer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a system design engineer has an average salary of $107,704, 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 a system design engineer are system design, architecture, and MATLAB.
| Controls Design Engineer | System Design Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $90,850 | $107,704 |
| Hourly rate | $43.68 | $51.78 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 95,461 | 113,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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.
A system design engineer is an individual who participates in system design engineering and resolves manufacturing and service problems. System design engineers are required to collaborate with the system design team to research emerging technologies and develop new capabilities. They create design layouts by utilizing the use of CAD software such as AutoCad as well as supervise a group of CAD technicians. System design engineers must also provide customer service in the field and deliver individualized problem solving and system design support
Controls design engineers and system design engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Design Engineer | System Design Engineer | |
| Average salary | $90,850 | $107,704 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $119,000 | Between $77,000 And $149,000 |
| 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 system design engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Design Engineer | System Design Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls design engineers' and system design engineers' demographics:
| Controls Design Engineer | System Design Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| 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, 11.4% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |