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The differences between electrical maintenance engineers and controls 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 maintenance engineer, becoming a controls engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a controls engineer has an average salary of $84,532, which is higher than the $77,585 average annual salary of an electrical maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical maintenance engineer include PLC, electrical equipment and control systems. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,585 | $84,532 |
| Hourly rate | $37.30 | $40.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 90,479 | 50,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
As a part of the maintenance team, the electrical maintenance engineer is responsible for maintaining electrical fixtures used by establishments. They install electrical equipment such as switches and elevators, repair if the damage is present, and maintain their proper function. They are hired independently or contractually in industrial establishments to do their job. They must respond quickly if a malfunction is observed, ensuring safety along the way. They must have good communication skills to work with the team.
A Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supervising electrical control systems, machinery, and equipment. They oversee projects from initial concept to installation and commissioning.
Electrical maintenance engineers and controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $77,585 | $84,532 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $106,000 | Between $64,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | The Woodlands, TX | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Chevron | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical maintenance engineer and a controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between electrical maintenance engineers' and controls engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Maintenance Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |