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Project field engineer vs project controls engineer

The differences between project field 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 field engineer and a project controls engineer. Additionally, a project controls engineer has an average salary of $86,685, which is higher than the $71,292 average annual salary of a project field engineer.

The top three skills for a project field engineer include shop drawings, project management and OSHA. The most important skills for a project controls engineer are project controls, project management, and construction management.

Project field engineer vs project controls engineer overview

Project Field EngineerProject Controls Engineer
Yearly salary$71,292$86,685
Hourly rate$34.27$41.68
Growth rate7%3%
Number of jobs78,58938,974
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4145
Years of experience66

What does a project field engineer do?

Field engineers are engineering professionals who work on-site in a different setting to direct workers and report to the management about the status of different projects. These engineers are required to resolve malfunctions or other crises such as construction or machinery problems while overseeing repairs and technical improvements. They must conduct research and studies on-site and installing new systems and technology to ensure smooth operations of machinery. Field engineers must also communicate with clients to discuss and determine the needs and explain complex issues of projects.

What does a project controls engineer do?

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 field engineer vs project controls engineer salary

Project field engineers and project controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project Field EngineerProject Controls Engineer
Average salary$71,292$86,685
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $90,000Between $63,000 And $119,000
Highest paying CityRoseville, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOklahomaCalifornia
Best paying companyOHL USABP America Inc
Best paying industryEnergyEnergy

Differences between project field engineer and project controls engineer education

There are a few differences between a project field engineer and a project controls engineer in terms of educational background:

Project Field EngineerProject Controls Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorCivil EngineeringBusiness
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkStanford University

Project field engineer vs project controls engineer demographics

Here are the differences between project field engineers' and project controls engineers' demographics:

Project Field EngineerProject Controls Engineer
Average age4145
Gender ratioMale, 91.1% Female, 8.9%Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage5%6%

Differences between project field engineer and project controls engineer duties and responsibilities

Project field engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage work orders utilizing client's MAXIMO and BSL system.
  • Manage document control including change orders, billings, RFI tracking, purchasing documentation and contract administration.
  • Manage and/or participate in a variety of water and wastewater assist company principles as engineering consultants for numerous municipal clients.
  • Obtain and evaluate geotechnical data at project sites.
  • Negotiate change-order work and prepare monthly project CPM updates.
  • Create and maintain change order logs on each project also maintaining RFI logs on all projects.
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Project controls engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage accruals, cash flows, and invoices for $25MM total install cost EPC project.
  • Manage multiple projects involving both internal and vendor resources affecting national production infrastructure.
  • Create and maintain CPM schedules for engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning phases on various projects.
  • Develop and improve PMO process methodologies.
  • Optimize plant maintenance and manpower scheduling using spreadsheet forecasting models.
  • Prepare summary level CPM schedules and present progress to owner company executive management on a monthly basis.
  • Show more

Project field engineer vs project controls engineer skills

Common project field engineer skills
  • Shop Drawings, 10%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • OSHA, 7%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Field Supervision, 6%
  • Construction Projects, 5%
Common project controls engineer skills
  • Project Controls, 12%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • Construction Management, 7%
  • Primavera P6, 5%
  • Control Systems, 3%
  • Project Cost, 3%

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