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Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical controls engineer

The differences between electrical engineering project managers and electrical controls 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 engineering project manager and an electrical controls engineer. Additionally, an electrical engineering project manager has an average salary of $87,900, which is higher than the $82,681 average annual salary of an electrical controls engineer.

The top three skills for an electrical engineering project manager include electrical engineering, project management and autocad. The most important skills for an electrical controls engineer are HMI, PLC, and allen-bradley.

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical controls engineer overview

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Controls Engineer
Yearly salary$87,900$82,681
Hourly rate$42.26$39.75
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs131,38054,037
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4545
Years of experience22

What does an electrical engineering project manager do?

An electrical engineering project manager spearheads and manages engineering projects, ensuring operations adhere to goals and budgets. Part of their job is to participate in identifying and meeting project requirements, set daily objectives and guidelines, manage project teams, and monitor processes, addressing and resolving issues should there be any. They may also liaise and negotiate with external parties, building positive relationships in the process. Moreover, being an electrical engineering project manager, they have the responsibility to lead and encourage the workforce to reach project goals while implementing company policies and standards.

What does an electrical controls engineer do?

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 engineering project manager vs electrical controls engineer salary

Electrical engineering project managers and electrical controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Controls Engineer
Average salary$87,900$82,681
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $114,000Between $62,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CityLivermore, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCalpineTallgrass Energy
Best paying industryEnergyAutomotive

Differences between electrical engineering project manager and electrical controls engineer education

There are a few differences between an electrical engineering project manager and an electrical controls engineer in terms of educational background:

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Controls Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityMichigan Technological University

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical controls engineer demographics

Here are the differences between electrical engineering project managers' and electrical controls engineers' demographics:

Electrical Engineering Project ManagerElectrical Controls Engineer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 88.6% Female, 11.4%Male, 93.6% Female, 6.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between electrical engineering project manager and electrical controls engineer duties and responsibilities

Electrical engineering project manager example responsibilities.

  • Participate and lead capital projects, maintenance excellence and CMMS programs, and EHS objectives.
  • Manage department staff of 24 full-time electrical engineers, firmware developers and technicians (employees and contractors).
  • Manage projects involve from procurement to completion for geotechnical and construction materials testing and inspection projects.
  • Create new opportunities and value for the company and successfully manage all geotechnical engineering matters including comprehensive report writing.
  • Design analog and digital PCB's.
  • Provide detail design in both analog and digital from schematic to PCB layout.
  • Show more

Electrical controls engineer example responsibilities.

  • Upgrade, troubleshoot and manage control systems for multiple businesses at the site location.
  • Achieve low cost solution for professional tier radio with rug full color display and USB accessory interface.
  • Introduce UL and NFPA codes and standards into electrical control panel designs.
  • Design electrical controls and safety circuits for packaging machines, applying NEC codes, UL and CSA certification.
  • Used a PID base code for precise iteration.
  • Maintain and upgrade as necessary plant DCS Ethernet interface and assure its continue operation.
  • Show more

Electrical engineering project manager vs electrical controls engineer skills

Common electrical engineering project manager skills
  • Electrical Engineering, 18%
  • Project Management, 17%
  • Autocad, 8%
  • Engineering Design, 5%
  • Engineering Services, 4%
  • Electrical Design, 4%
Common electrical controls engineer skills
  • HMI, 12%
  • PLC, 11%
  • Allen-Bradley, 6%
  • UL, 5%
  • Hmi Programming, 4%
  • Project Management, 3%

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