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The differences between electrical controls engineers and electrical designers 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 an electrical designer. Additionally, an electrical controls engineer has an average salary of $82,681, which is higher than the $64,930 average annual salary of an electrical designer.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for an electrical designer are revit, electrical design, and autocad electrical.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $64,930 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $31.22 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 82,332 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| 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.
An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.
Electrical controls engineers and electrical designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $64,930 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $47,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | Amd |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and an electrical designer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| 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 electrical designers' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1% |
| 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, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |