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The differences between electrical controls engineers and controls engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an electrical controls engineer, becoming a controls engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a controls engineer has an average salary of $84,532, which is higher than the $82,681 average annual salary of an electrical controls engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $84,532 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $40.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 50,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An electrical controls engineer is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and optimal performance of the organization's electrical tools and equipment, usually in manufacturing and warehouse settings. Electrical controls engineers use their excellent analytical and statistical skills to analyze operational processes and suggest production improvement techniques maximize productivity and reduce service delays. They conduct preventive maintenance on the equipment and machinery, including network and system configuration, to increase efficiency and accuracy. An electrical controls engineer maintains operational reports, including equipment and machinery instructional manuals for reference.
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.
Electrical controls engineers and controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $84,532 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $64,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and a controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical controls engineers' and controls engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |