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The differences between electrical controls engineers and project 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 project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electrical controls engineer has an average salary of $82,681, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical controls engineer include HMI, PLC and allen-bradley. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $82,681 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $39.75 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 54,037 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| 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 Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Electrical controls engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $82,681 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $108,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Tallgrass Energy | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical controls engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |