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The differences between senior control systems 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 a senior control systems engineer and a controls engineer. Additionally, a senior control systems engineer has an average salary of $109,721, which is higher than the $84,532 average annual salary of a controls engineer.
The top three skills for a senior control systems engineer include MATLAB, C++ and project management. The most important skills for a controls engineer are C++, troubleshoot, and UL.
| Senior Control Systems Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $109,721 | $84,532 |
| Hourly rate | $52.75 | $40.64 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 154,439 | 50,203 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
As senior control systems engineer's main task is to provide automatic solutions to their company through technologies such as DCS, PLC, and custom-built panels. They are responsible for designing and analyzing control systems for their company and identifying any potential issues. They troubleshoot the malfunctions within the control systems of the company. In addition to that, they provide the company with system designs and engineering tasks.
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.
Senior control systems engineers and controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Control Systems Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $109,721 | $84,532 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $142,000 | Between $64,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior control systems engineer and a controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Control Systems Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | 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 senior control systems engineers' and controls engineers' demographics:
| Senior Control Systems Engineer | Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.9% White, 64.2% 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% |