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The differences between optical design engineers and senior 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 senior controls engineer. Additionally, a senior controls engineer has an average salary of $107,298, which is higher than the $94,750 average annual salary of an optical design engineer.
The top three skills for an optical design engineer include optical design, MATLAB and zemax. The most important skills for a senior controls engineer are control systems, HMI, and C++.
| Optical Design Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,750 | $107,298 |
| Hourly rate | $45.55 | $51.59 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 49,731 | 39,440 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 senior controls engineer specializes in designing and developing control systems in various industries. Their responsibilities typically include identifying and understanding the company's needs, producing prototypes and test structures, gathering and analyzing data to identify areas needing improvement, implementing solutions in vulnerable areas, and providing technical support when necessary. Furthermore, as a senior controls engineer, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior engineers, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Optical design engineers and senior controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Design Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,750 | $107,298 |
| Salary range | Between $71,000 And $125,000 | Between $82,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Menlo Park, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Sagent Pharmaceuticals |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an optical design engineer and a senior controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Optical Design Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between optical design engineers' and senior controls engineers' demographics:
| Optical Design Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |