Okay, let’s tackle this. So Brian has 17 years of experience as a Controls Engineer, which is a significant amount of time. Location is Appleton, WI, which is a mid-sized city with a relatively low cost of living. Industry standards for Controls Engineers in the US typically range from $80 to $150 per hour, depending on experience and location. Given Brian’s experience and location, I’d estimate his hourly rate to be around $125, which is slightly below the midpoint of the industry range. This is a reasonable estimate, considering his skills and experience, but may be negotiable based on specific client needs and requirements.