Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between lead controls engineers and project 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 project engineer. Additionally, a lead controls engineer has an average salary of $99,296, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a lead controls engineer include C++, PLC and technical support. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Lead Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,296 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $47.74 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 57,348 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| 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.
A Project Engineer develops the plan that the entire team or company will undertake. The project engineer develops the plans, strategies, and goals of a project and then gives it to the management for approval and allocation. The Project Engineer will also recommend material, equipment, and the type of personnel needed. This position is integral in the smooth flow of any project, so hiring someone to hold this position will decide the success of a project.
Lead controls engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,296 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $79,000 And $123,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Antonio, TX | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rivian | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Energy |
There are a few differences between a lead controls engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Lead Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between lead controls engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Lead Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.5% Female, 12.5% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| 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, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 14.5% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 5% |