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The differences between controls engineers and project controls 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 project controls engineer. Additionally, a project controls engineer has an average salary of $86,685, 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 a project controls engineer are project controls, project management, and construction management.
| Controls Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,532 | $86,685 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $41.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,203 | 38,974 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| 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.
A Project Controls Engineer creates project cost reports and progress charts. These professionals interpret the company contract and deal with the existing cost control database and financial risk. Project Controls Engineers reconcile and organize the project cost information with the clients' status reports. Also, they evaluate cash flow reports and project cost reports prepared by CMA.
Controls engineers and project controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Controls Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,532 | $86,685 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $111,000 | Between $63,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a controls engineer and a project controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Controls Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between controls engineers' and project controls engineers' demographics:
| Controls Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |