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The differences between project 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 a project engineer and a project controls engineer. Additionally, a project controls engineer has an average salary of $86,685, which is higher than the $75,050 average annual salary of a project engineer.
The top three skills for a project engineer include project management, autocad and construction management. The most important skills for a project controls engineer are project controls, project management, and construction management.
| Project Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $75,050 | $86,685 |
| Hourly rate | $36.08 | $41.68 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 176,689 | 38,974 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
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.
Project engineers and project controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $75,050 | $86,685 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $100,000 | Between $63,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a project engineer and a project controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Project Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between project engineers' and project controls engineers' demographics:
| Project Engineer | Project Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.1% Female, 12.9% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 5% | 6% |