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The differences between controls engineers 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 engineer, becoming an electrical designer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a controls engineer has an average salary of $84,532, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.
The top three skills for a controls engineer include C++, troubleshoot and UL. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.
| Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $64,930 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 82,332 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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 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 engineers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $64,930 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Amd |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls engineers' and electrical designers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 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% |