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The differences between drive test engineers and control systems 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 drive test engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a control systems engineer has an average salary of $92,727, which is higher than the $76,872 average annual salary of a drive test engineer.
The top three skills for a drive test engineer include data collection, GPS and pre. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.
| Drive Test Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $76,872 | $92,727 |
| Hourly rate | $36.96 | $44.58 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 36,537 | 133,220 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
For cars and other automobiles' best performance, drive test engineers can be asked for suggestions. From their expertise, one can ensure that the chosen car is equipped with the necessary accessories such as GPS, Bluetooth hubs, an air conditioner, locks, and USB ports. They train and teach people how to drive safely, following road laws and protocols. They monitor for enhancements and provide reports to stakeholders and managers for its application. They can troubleshoot minor software problems in automobiles.
Control systems engineers are interdisciplinary engineers managing the company's control systems. They are expected to be familiar with different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, industrial, and computer science, among others. They are responsible for designing systems based on the company's requirements. Control systems engineers must conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the company's requirements can be met. They are also responsible for developing the systems, creating prototypes, and testing. They test whether the control systems produce desired results. After testing, control systems engineers implement the system and conduct routine maintenance checks.
Drive test engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drive Test Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $76,872 | $92,727 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $103,000 | Between $72,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a drive test engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Drive Test Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between drive test engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:
| Drive Test Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 15.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |