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The differences between electrical project 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 project 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 $84,342 average annual salary of an electrical project engineer.
The top three skills for an electrical project engineer include project management, autocad and PLC. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.
| Electrical Project Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $84,342 | $84,532 |
| Hourly rate | $40.55 | $40.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 67,802 | 50,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
Electrical Project Engineers have licensed engineers involved in a project which specifically works on electrical or electricity-related concerns. They design the electrical systems that are needed for the success of the project. They draw up these systems using software and identify the materials needed to create these. They would then develop these systems by creating them using the materials and test if their design is working. Once they validate the design works and address the project's needs, electrical project engineers would work on controlling, maintaining, and repairing these systems as needed.
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 project engineers and controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Project Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $84,342 | $84,532 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $109,000 | Between $64,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an electrical project engineer and a controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Project Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | 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 project engineers' and controls engineers' demographics:
| Electrical Project Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.7% 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% |