Automation control technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an automation control technician. Automation control technicians usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or industrial technology. 39% of automation control technicians hold a associate degree, and 33% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 255 real automation control technician resumes to see exactly what automation control technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for automation control technicians are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.

There are also many online automation control technician courses to help get the education required to be an automation control technician.

What education do you need to become an automation control technician?

What degree do you need to be an automation control technician?

The most common degree for automation control technicians is associate degree, with 39% of automation control technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 33% and bachelor's degree degree at 12%.

Associate, 39%

Bachelor's, 33%

High School Diploma, 12%

Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 12%

What should I major in to become an automation control technician?

You should major in electrical engineering to become an automation control technician. 32% of automation control technicians major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for an automation control technician include electrical engineering technology and industrial technology.

Electrical Engineering, 32%

Electrical Engineering Technology, 21%

Industrial Technology, 7%

Business, 4%

Other Majors, 36%

Most common colleges for automation control technicians

Automation control technicians often get their degrees at DeVry University, Sam Houston State University, and Pennsylvania College of Technology. Here are the most common colleges for automation control technicians in the US based on their resumes.

Automation control technician common college	Percentages
DeVry University	11.54%
Sam Houston State University	7.69%
Pennsylvania College of Technology	7.69%
Ranken Technical College	7.69%
University of Chicago	7.69%

Show more common automation control technician colleges

Best majors for automation control technicians

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Electrical Engineering	31.7%
2	Electrical Engineering Technology	21.1%
3	Industrial Technology	6.5%
4	Business	4.1%
5	Mechanical Engineering Technology	4.1%

Show more common automation control technician majors

Best colleges for automation control technicians

The best colleges for automation control technicians are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

An automation control technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for automation control technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become automation control technicians.

1. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

2. Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$10,616

Enrollment

9,325

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

5. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Enrollment

11,139

6. Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$13,097

Enrollment

17,114

7. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

10. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

20 best online courses for automation control technicians

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Learn fundamentals of Mechanical & electrical system modeling, simulation and control with this unique practical course!...

3. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

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Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

4. PLC & AC Drive with Automatic & Manual Industrial Control

4.2

(501)

this course will take newbies to a higher level to deal with complex PLC projects, Motor Drives ( VFD ) & Manual Control...

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(338)

Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...

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(1,142)

Modeling + state space systems + PID + Model Predictive Control + Python simulation: lateral control for autonomous cars...

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(502)

This course is a great introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers Theory, Principles, and Programming Applications...

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This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

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Interactive 3D platform to build and simulate Industrial Automation system...

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Electrical Hardware Engineering & Variable Frequency Drive Programming PLC, HMI, Allen Bradley RSLogix 5000...

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Design from A-Z control projects using Arduino, Soft PLC, HMI, VFD, Mod Bus TCP and Electrical panel with full simulation...

19. Electrical Control & Protection Part 3

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20. PLC Programming - Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000

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Top 10 most affordable universities for automation control technicians

The most affordable schools for automation control technicians are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and california state polytechnic university, pomona.

If the best universities for automation control technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for automation control technicians.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

4. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

6. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV • Private

In-state tuition

$7,464

Cost of attendance

17,166

7. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

10. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$6,686

Cost of attendance

17,885

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for automation control technicians

The hardest universities for automation control technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Some great schools for automation control technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for automation control technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

4. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

6. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

7. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for automation control technicians

The easiest schools for automation control technicians to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, pennsylvania state university - altoona, and capitol technology university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an automation control technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for automation control technicians.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

3. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

4. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois

DuBois, PA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,079

5. Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington

New Kensington, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,091

6. Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,019

7. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

8. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

9. Pennsylvania State University - Berks

Reading, PA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,107

10. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

Average automation control technician salary by education level

Automation control technicians with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $63,741 annually. With a Associate degree, automation control technicians earn a median annual income of $61,499 compared to $60,711 for automation control technicians with an Bachelor's degree.

Automation control technician education level	Automation control technician salary
Master's Degree	$63,741
High School Diploma or Less	$58,350
Bachelor's Degree	$60,711
Some College/ Associate Degree	$61,499

Automation control technician education FAQs

What is the best college for Automation Control Technicians?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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