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The differences between controls engineers and mechanical 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 a mechanical engineer. Additionally, a controls engineer has an average salary of $84,532, which is higher than the $75,352 average annual salary of a mechanical engineer.
The top three skills for a controls engineer include C++, troubleshoot and UL. The most important skills for a mechanical engineer are CAD, solidworks, and mechanical systems.
| Controls Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $75,352 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 105,618 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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.
Mechanical Engineers oversee the development of various mechanical devices in different industries. Most of the responsibilities will revolve around crafting, improving, or designing technologies by utilizing extensive expertise in the subject; they identify and detect errors, provide in-depth analysis, and resolve issues. They are often in designated offices, but they can also work on-site and travel if necessary. Furthermore, Mechanical Engineers usually function in a group or team setting, often supervised by personnel in higher positions.
Controls engineers and mechanical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $75,352 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and a mechanical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 mechanical engineers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.6% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |