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The differences between flight controls engineers and stress engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a flight controls engineer and a stress engineer. Additionally, a stress engineer has an average salary of $107,036, which is higher than the $99,619 average annual salary of a flight controls engineer.
The top three skills for a flight controls engineer include C++, FAA and flight control systems. The most important skills for a stress engineer are finite element analysis, structural analysis, and autocad.
| Flight Controls Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,619 | $107,036 |
| Hourly rate | $47.89 | $51.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 46,807 | 36,117 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The main task of a flight controls engineer is to monitor the instrument systems of an airplane during the flight. Flight controls engineers communicate with dispatchers, assist the pilot, oversee the fuel, and regulate cabin pressure. They work on the design, state flow testing, and module of the flight control system. Their job includes investigating, recommending, and implementing flight control system solutions. They perform data analysis to ensure compliance with FAA. Also, they provide solutions to issues affecting the operations and developments of flights.
A stress engineer specializes in conducting analysis and assessments on structures and components, mainly using stress to test its structural integrity. They may work in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and even medical. Although their duties may vary upon the industry, they are typically in charge of performing extensive research and analysis, coordinating with architects and engineers, designing and building prototypes, and maintaining records of all procedures. Furthermore, a stress engineer must produce detailed progress and findings reports in adherence to project deadlines and company policies.
Flight controls engineers and stress engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Controls Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,619 | $107,036 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $130,000 | Between $73,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | CTS |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a flight controls engineer and a stress engineer in terms of educational background:
| Flight Controls Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between flight controls engineers' and stress engineers' demographics:
| Flight Controls Engineer | Stress Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 13.0% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 19.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |