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The differences between manufacturing controls engineers and project engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a manufacturing controls engineer, becoming a project engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a manufacturing controls engineer has an average salary of $96,327, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a manufacturing controls engineer include PLC, CNC and lean manufacturing. The most important skills for a project engineer are project management, autocad, and construction management.
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $96,327 | $75,050 |
| Hourly rate | $46.31 | $36.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 51,699 | 176,689 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A manufacturing controls engineer ensures the manufacturing process of a plant is run efficiently and complies with all safety standards. Their role is to develop equipment to monitor and control efficiency of engineering systems and machinery, implement processes that will help manufacturers increase productivity, conduct research, test and analyze designs, and monitor the strategies implemented to ensure functionality. This position requires an engineering degree.
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.
Manufacturing controls engineers and project engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average salary | $96,327 | $75,050 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $125,000 | Between $55,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Oakland, CA | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | JUUL | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Energy |
There are a few differences between a manufacturing controls engineer and a project engineer in terms of educational background:
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between manufacturing controls engineers' and project engineers' demographics:
| Manufacturing Controls Engineer | Project Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 10.1% White, 69.1% 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 | 4% | 5% |