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The differences between controls engineers and plc programmers 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 plc programmer takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a controls engineer has an average salary of $84,532, which is higher than the $70,452 average annual salary of an plc programmer.
The top three skills for a controls engineer include C++, troubleshoot and UL. The most important skills for an plc programmer are HMI, allen-bradley, and hmi programming.
| Controls Engineer | PLC Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $70,452 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $33.87 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 8,459 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
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.
A Programmable Logic Controller or PLC programmer is a person who has expertise in the logic and language used to create such a program. This person is expected to create, develop, tweak, and troubleshoot a PLC program and enhance it to perfection. This person should have strong programming skills and all the necessary know-how to accomplish tasks outlined by the company's needs developing the PLC program. All programmers are highly essential in a technology-based company.
Controls engineers and plc programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | PLC Programmer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $70,452 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $49,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Apple | CVR Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and an plc programmer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | PLC Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between controls engineers' and plc programmers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | PLC Programmer | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 96.1% Female, 3.9% |
| 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, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 11% |