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The differences between optical design engineers and project 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 project controls engineer. Additionally, an optical design engineer has an average salary of $94,750, which is higher than the $86,685 average annual salary of a project controls engineer.
The top three skills for an optical design engineer include optical design, MATLAB and zemax. The most important skills for a project controls engineer are project controls, project management, and construction management.
| Optical Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,750 | $86,685 |
| Hourly rate | $45.55 | $41.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 49,731 | 38,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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 Project Controls Engineer creates project cost reports and progress charts. These professionals interpret the company contract and deal with the existing cost control database and financial risk. Project Controls Engineers reconcile and organize the project cost information with the clients' status reports. Also, they evaluate cash flow reports and project cost reports prepared by CMA.
Optical design engineers and project controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,750 | $86,685 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $125,000 | Between $63,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an optical design engineer and a project controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Optical Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between optical design engineers' and project controls engineers' demographics:
| Optical Design Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |