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The differences between controls designers and design directors 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 designer, becoming a design director takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design director has an average salary of $132,823, which is higher than the $91,944 average annual salary of a controls designer.
The top three skills for a controls designer include PLC, control panels and IDS. The most important skills for a design director are sketch, human centered design, and product design.
| Controls Designer | Design Director | |
| Yearly salary | $91,944 | $132,823 |
| Hourly rate | $44.20 | $63.86 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 79,729 | 48,337 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control. They illustrate and describe details for installation and maintenance, such as bearing lubrication and lubrication types. It is part of their job to review schematics with the representatives of customers to answer questions during robot system installation. Also, they may design energy conversion controls.
A design director spearheads and oversees design projects in a company or organization. They typically have the authority to lead the creative and design teams, make significant decisions, delegate responsibilities, set goals and schedules, manage budgets and resources, and direct the project's cycle from planning to execution. They also coordinate with clients and solve issues when any arise. Additionally, a design director leads and encourages teams to reach goals, all while implementing standards and policies, developing new ones when necessary.
Controls designers and design directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Designer | Design Director | |
| Average salary | $91,944 | $132,823 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $121,000 | Between $82,000 And $212,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Washington |
| Best paying company | Visteon | Proenza Schouler |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a controls designer and a design director in terms of educational background:
| Controls Designer | Design Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between controls designers' and design directors' demographics:
| Controls Designer | Design Director | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% | Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 17.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |