Last updated May 20, 2026. Wage anchors use BLS OEWS May 2025 national data; occupation matching is interpreted for factory automation roles with help from O*NET occupation definitions.
Controls engineer salary in the United States depends less on the title and more on what the engineer is expected to own: PLC logic, electrical design, HMI/SCADA, machine safety, commissioning, plant reliability, or customer-site startup. Two jobs with the same title can be tens of thousands of dollars apart if one is routine support and the other is responsible for launching equipment that production depends on.
The Useful Salary Anchors
A controls engineer may map closest to electrical engineering, industrial engineering, engineering technology, or a broader engineering category depending on the employer. That is why a single average can mislead both candidates and hiring managers.
BLS electrical engineers show a national median of $120,630 in the May 2025 OEWS data. Industrial engineers show a median of $102,440, while engineers classified as all other show a median of $122,930. Controls jobs that are mostly technician-level troubleshooting may sit closer to electrical/electronic engineering technologist pay.
What Pushes Controls Pay Higher
The strongest pay signals are ownership and risk. Designing a control system, validating safety behavior, owning a plant line, supporting launch, or commissioning a customer site usually pays more than making small changes inside a stable program.
High-value controls engineers can talk across electrical design, mechanical sequence, operator behavior, networking, and production constraints. They understand why a machine faults, not just where the rung turns false. Experience with regulated industries, robotics, motion, process controls, or high-speed packaging can also move compensation.
How Candidates Should Read Postings
Look for words like ownership, commissioning, startup, design, safety, integration, SCADA, motion, and troubleshooting. These usually signal more responsibility than a narrow support role. If the posting lists only generic automation language, ask for the actual PLC/HMI platforms and the type of equipment.
A strong controls resume should describe systems, not just software. Include machine types, networks, sensors, drives, robots, safety circuits, and business results such as reduced downtime, faster cycle time, or successful launch support.
How Employers Should Set The Range
If the role must own architecture, commissioning, customer communication, or production recovery, price it like a controls engineer, not like a general maintenance opening. If the job is mostly day-to-day troubleshooting, say that clearly and adjust the title accordingly.
The best postings separate required skills from nice-to-have skills. A long list of every PLC, robot, drive, and SCADA brand can make the role look unfocused. Candidates respond better when they can see the equipment they will actually touch.
BLS Wage Anchors To Compare
Data note: Controls Engineer is not a single BLS occupation. The table uses May 2025 OEWS data from adjacent engineering and engineering-technology occupations.
| BLS occupation | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-2071 – Electrical Engineers | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 | $184,300 |
| 17-2112 – Industrial Engineers | $83,600 | $102,440 | $129,250 | $159,860 |
| 17-2199 – Engineers, All Other | $90,970 | $122,930 | $158,090 | $189,950 |
| 17-3023 – Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,610 | $78,190 | $97,650 | $115,700 |
Compare current controls engineer openings
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How To Use This Guide
For candidates, compare the job description against the responsibility level in this guide. A title alone is not enough. Look for the platforms, equipment, travel, shift, startup pressure, and troubleshooting authority.
For employers, use the guide to decide whether the posting is priced like the work you actually need. Better detail usually means fewer weak applications and more serious candidates from the PLC, controls, robotics, and industrial electrical market.
Use this guide
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