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The differences between senior electronic 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 a senior electronic engineer and a senior controls engineer. Additionally, a senior controls engineer has an average salary of $107,298, which is higher than the $106,931 average annual salary of a senior electronic engineer.
The top three skills for a senior electronic engineer include power electronics, analog and C++. The most important skills for a senior controls engineer are control systems, HMI, and C++.
| Senior Electronic Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $106,931 | $107,298 |
| Hourly rate | $51.41 | $51.59 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 63,815 | 39,440 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Senior Electronics Engineer is responsible for the directive development of communication systems, the field support design, equipment modifications, and technical issuances. This position demands knowledge in applied engineering principles to analyze and test electronic system performances or applications, technical documentation, producing engineering prototypes, and developing software. These professionals work with different equipment, from phones to PCs and even medical equipment or military systems. A Senior Electronics Engineer's tasks include checking the quality of the equipment they are using and ensuring that projects are cost-efficient, completed on time, and safe.
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.
Senior electronic engineers and senior controls engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Electronic Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average salary | $106,931 | $107,298 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $141,000 | Between $82,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Sagent Pharmaceuticals |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a senior electronic engineer and a senior controls engineer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Electronic Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between senior electronic engineers' and senior controls engineers' demographics:
| Senior Electronic Engineer | Senior Controls Engineer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.3% Female, 3.7% | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 15.9% White, 63.5% 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% |