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The differences between electrical controls engineers and electrical engineers 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 engineer. Additionally, an electrical controls engineer has an average salary of $82,681, which is higher than the $81,026 average annual salary of an electrical engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for an electrical engineer are autocad, electrical systems, and UL.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $81,026 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $38.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 68,536 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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.
Electrical engineers are responsible for designing and developing new electrical systems, solving issues, and testing equipment. They work on various technologies, including telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations. Electrical engineers study and apply the mathematics and physics of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity to small and large-scale electrical systems to transmit energy and process information. They often work with all types of electronic devices, such as supercomputers and power transmission. They also work in the emerging field of microelectronics.
Electrical controls engineers and electrical engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $81,026 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $59,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Redmond, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and an electrical engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Electrical Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 90.0% Female, 10.0% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 16.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |