Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between electro optical engineers and controls designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an electro optical engineer and a controls designer. Additionally, an electro optical engineer has an average salary of $94,958, which is higher than the $91,944 average annual salary of a controls designer.
The top three skills for an electro optical engineer include system performance, C++ and data analysis. The most important skills for a controls designer are PLC, control panels, and IDS.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Controls Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,958 | $91,944 |
| Hourly rate | $45.65 | $44.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 12,443 | 79,729 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An electro-optical engineer performs engineering tasks related to electronic and optical devices, creates optical designs, and assists users of laser optics. The essential skills that an electro-optical engineer should possess to perform his/her or her responsibilities include good mathematical and speaking skills and the ability to concentrate to create complex electrical systems and electronic components and products. The education requirements for the job include a college degree in electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.
Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control. They illustrate and describe details for installation and maintenance, such as bearing lubrication and lubrication types. It is part of their job to review schematics with the representatives of customers to answer questions during robot system installation. Also, they may design energy conversion controls.
Electro optical engineers and controls designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electro Optical Engineer | Controls Designer | |
| Average salary | $94,958 | $91,944 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $132,000 | Between $69,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lynnwood, WA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | 3M Company | Visteon |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electro optical engineer and a controls designer in terms of educational background:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Controls Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between electro optical engineers' and controls designers' demographics:
| Electro Optical Engineer | Controls Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 86.5% Female, 13.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 15.7% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 17.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |