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The differences between controls engineers and automation 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 engineer, becoming an automation engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an automation engineer has an average salary of $92,597, which is higher than the $84,532 average annual salary of a controls engineer.
The top three skills for a controls engineer include C++, troubleshoot and UL. The most important skills for an automation engineer are python, java, and PLC.
| Controls Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $92,597 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $44.52 |
| Growth rate | 3% | - |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 133,941 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supervising electrical control systems, machinery, and equipment. They oversee projects from initial concept to installation and commissioning.
An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.
Controls engineers and automation engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $92,597 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $70,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and an automation engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between controls engineers' and automation engineers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | Automation Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |