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The differences between controls engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a controls engineer and an engineer. Additionally, an engineer has an average salary of $92,077, 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 engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Controls Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Controls engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between controls engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |