Controls electricians install, wire, program, and troubleshoot automated control systems: PLCs, HMIs, motor control centers, and instrumentation. The work sits where traditional electrical trade meets automation technology, and it pays among the highest wages in the field.
Typical Salary Range
$72,000 to $110,000 per year. PLC programmers with panel building experience often earn more.
Key Platforms
Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Schneider, Beckhoff.
Key Skills
PLC programming (ladder logic, function block), HMI development, VFD configuration, instrumentation calibration.
Job Outlook
Strong. Industrial automation investment is accelerating across manufacturing sectors.
Common Employers
System integrators, industrial manufacturers, EPC contractors, OEM equipment builders.
Manufacturers are automating to address labor shortages and chase productivity gains, which directly drives demand for electricians who can both wire and program automated systems.
Qualified controls technicians have been a long-running constraint for industrial facilities, and compensation has risen accordingly.
Candidates who hold a journeyman license alongside PLC programming skills are especially hard to recruit, which strengthens their leverage.
How much do controls electricians earn?
Typical pay runs $72,000 to $110,000 per year, with PLC programmers who also build panels often earning above that range.
What platforms should I know?
Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and Siemens are the most commonly requested, with Mitsubishi, Schneider, and Beckhoff also in use across facilities.
What certifications are usually required?
OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E come up most often, typically on top of a journeyman license and PLC programming experience.
Who hires controls electricians?
System integrators, industrial manufacturers, EPC contractors, and OEM equipment builders are the most common employers.
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