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The differences between instrumentation & control engineers and 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 instrumentation & control engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an instrumentation & control engineer has an average salary of $92,464, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for an instrumentation & control engineer include PLC, HMI and SCADA. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,464 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $44.45 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 51,065 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
An instrumentation and control engineer is responsible for installing and designing technical components for engineering systems that would support production and manufacturing processes. Instrumentation and control engineers inspect control systems, modify features and infrastructure, configure controllers, and run multiple quality checks to ensure stability and optimal performance. They must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in developing system codes and analyzing programming languages to serve control functions and development. An instrumentation and control engineer also resolves system issues and write resolution reports for reference.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Instrumentation & control engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,464 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $121,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Marathon Petroleum | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an instrumentation & control engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between instrumentation & control engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |