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The differences between instrumentation & control engineers and senior field engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an instrumentation & control engineer and a senior field engineer. Additionally, a senior field engineer has an average salary of $97,104, which is higher than the $92,464 average annual salary of an instrumentation & control engineer.
The top three skills for an instrumentation & control engineer include PLC, HMI and SCADA. The most important skills for a senior field engineer are RF, technical support, and excellent interpersonal.
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,464 | $97,104 |
| Hourly rate | $44.45 | $46.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 51,065 | 86,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A senior field engineer is in charge of overseeing and providing technical support on-site, helping operations run smoothly and efficiently. Among their responsibilities include performing installations and upgrades, performing research and analysis, managing staff, producing progress reports, and conducting inspections, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks on equipment, performing corrective repairs and adjustments when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior field engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers while implementing the site's safety policies and regulations.
Instrumentation & control engineers and senior field engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average salary | $92,464 | $97,104 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $121,000 | Between $67,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Marathon Petroleum | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between an instrumentation & control engineer and a senior field engineer in terms of educational background:
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Michigan Technological University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between instrumentation & control engineers' and senior field engineers' demographics:
| Instrumentation & Control Engineer | Senior Field Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |