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The differences between controls designers and electrical designers 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 an electrical designer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a controls designer has an average salary of $91,944, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.
The top three skills for a controls designer include PLC, control panels and IDS. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.
| Controls Designer | Electrical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $91,944 | $64,930 |
| Hourly rate | $44.20 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 79,729 | 82,332 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.
Controls designers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Designer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average salary | $91,944 | $64,930 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $121,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Visteon | Amd |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a controls designer and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Designer | Electrical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls designers' and electrical designers' demographics:
| Controls Designer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |