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The differences between lead controls engineers and control systems engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a lead controls engineer and a control systems engineer. Additionally, a lead controls engineer has an average salary of $99,296, which is higher than the $92,727 average annual salary of a control systems engineer.
The top three skills for a lead controls engineer include C++, PLC and technical support. The most important skills for a control systems engineer are PLC, HMI, and C++.
| Lead Controls Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,296 | $92,727 |
| Hourly rate | $47.74 | $44.58 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 57,348 | 133,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Control Engineer is responsible for the design, development, and management of control dynamic systems in an aircraft or machinery company. They inspect and monitor all types of equipment and ensure all processes are running correctly and safely. Their role is to design a control panel and involves other engineers who operate and implement the said system. They also teach them how the procedure goes and how to deal with the possible problem that can encounter. Other duties include supervising the procurement of ICT equipment, installation, and meeting deadlines for the needed repair.
Control systems engineers are interdisciplinary engineers managing the company's control systems. They are expected to be familiar with different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, industrial, and computer science, among others. They are responsible for designing systems based on the company's requirements. Control systems engineers must conduct feasibility studies to ensure that the company's requirements can be met. They are also responsible for developing the systems, creating prototypes, and testing. They test whether the control systems produce desired results. After testing, control systems engineers implement the system and conduct routine maintenance checks.
Lead controls engineers and control systems engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Controls Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,296 | $92,727 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $123,000 | Between $72,000 And $118,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Antonio, TX | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lead controls engineer and a control systems engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Controls Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead controls engineers' and control systems engineers' demographics:
| Lead Controls Engineer | Control Systems Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 15.4% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |