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The differences between electrical controls engineers and controls technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an electrical controls engineer and a controls technician. Additionally, an electrical controls engineer has an average salary of $82,681, which is higher than the $53,345 average annual salary of a controls technician.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for a controls technician are PLC, control systems, and preventative maintenance.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $53,345 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 53,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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 technician is in charge of operating various systems within a building or facility. Although the responsibilities will vary upon the line of work or employment, the duties still revolve around using software to control types of machinery and systems such as manufacturing devices and equipment, even lighting and ventilation. It is crucial to coordinate with department managers and supervisors to avoid any technical problems and ensure a safe work environment for everyone.
Electrical controls engineers and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Technician | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $53,345 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $37,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and a controls technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical controls engineers' and controls technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Controls Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |