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The differences between electrical controls engineers and field 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 a field engineer. Additionally, an electrical controls engineer has an average salary of $82,681, which is higher than the $71,874 average annual salary of a field engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for a field engineer are customer service, customer satisfaction, and project management.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $71,874 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $34.55 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 86,015 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| 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 field engineer's role will vary on the industry or line of work involved. However, the primary responsibility will mostly revolve around handling equipment and machinery, ensuring that they function effectively and safely. It is also the task of a field engineer to oversee the workflow and workforce, giving directions and recommendations when necessary. Furthermore, a field engineer must develop strategies and plans to improve the site's efficiency, produce progress reports, and coordinate with other workers.
Electrical controls engineers and field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $71,874 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $51,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and a field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Field 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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical controls engineers' and field engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |