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The differences between optical design engineers and controls engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an optical design engineer and a controls engineer. Additionally, an optical design engineer has an average salary of $94,750, which is higher than the $84,532 average annual salary of a controls engineer.
The top three skills for an optical design engineer include optical design, MATLAB and zemax. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.
| Optical Design Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,750 | $84,532 |
| Hourly rate | $45.55 | $40.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 49,731 | 50,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An optical design engineer is an optics specialists who uses their scientific skills to design solutions and solve optical problems. Optical design engineers are essential in the field of laser technology, telescopes, optical lenses, and fiber optics. You will be responsible for designing and building devices that enable better utilization of optics technology and requires in-depth scientific optical knowledge as well as high technical design abilities. Optical design engineers are problem solvers in the field of optics.
A Controls Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and supervising electrical control systems, machinery, and equipment. They oversee projects from initial concept to installation and commissioning.
Optical design engineers and controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Design Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,750 | $84,532 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $125,000 | Between $64,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an optical design engineer and a controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Optical Design Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between optical design engineers' and controls engineers' demographics:
| Optical Design Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 17.2% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |