How to hire an automation control technician

How to hire an automation control technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step automation control technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an automation control technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new automation control technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The automation control technician hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An automation control technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, automation control technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents automation control technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Automation Control Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Automation Control Technician	Electro-mechanical technicians combine knowledge of mechanical technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits. They operate, test, and maintain unmanned, automated, robotic, or electromechanical equipment.	$20-37
   Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27
   Electromechanical Technician	An electromechanical technician works with everything concerning electrical wiring and circuitry. The electromechanical technician regularly monitors, inspects, and evaluates all electrical circuits in a building and does the necessary repairs when needed... Show more	$18-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PLC
   • HMI
   • HVAC
   • Building Automation
   • SCADA
   • Allen-Bradley
   • Technical Support
   • Hmi Programming
   • Logic Controllers
   • Electrical Equipment
   • PC
   • Ethernet
   • Electrical Troubleshooting
   • I/O

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all aspects of Marketo campaign strategy and implementation.
   • Design and install a building automation system for a school HVAC system
   • Install new temp/data logging system on smoke house and set up/programmed PLC and HMI for RTD probes.
   • Complete PLC/HMI program testing and modification and VFD programming.
   • Assemble, troubleshoot and test industrial PC computer systems and software.
   • Open and close switches to isolate defective relays; then perform adjustments or repairs.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your automation control technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An automation control technician salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, automation control technicians' average salary in kansas is 32% less than in illinois.
   • Seniority. Entry-level automation control technicians earn 45% less than senior-level automation control technicians.
   • Certifications. An automation control technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an automation control technician's salary.

   Average automation control technician salary

   $58,651yearly

   $28.20 hourly rate

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   Entry-level automation control technician salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing an automation control technician job description

   A job description for an automation control technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an automation control technician job description:

   Automation control technician job description example

   Are you interested in joining a dynamic, fast-moving team of dedicated professionals working on cutting-edge equipment and technology? Blentech Corporation is a manufacturer of custom food processing systems based out of Santa Rosa, CA. We have earned and celebrated a North Bay Business Journal Best Places to Work award each year for the past three years.
   
   For over 35 years, we have creatively blended function, durability, sanitary design, safety, and performance into the design and construction of Blentech systems.
   
   Blentech’s culture is focused on understanding. We first seek to listen before we act. Our team is driven and detailed oriented, willing to go the extra mile. Our innovative spirit mixed with our deeply rooted industry experience means that we are ideally suited to solve even the most challenging projects and applications. Our technologies are renowned across our industry for its impact. It makes food faster, safer, and in many cases, elevates quality all in one.
   
   Blentech embodies a true team environment where all employees work together towards a common goal. Although the capital equipment business is a demanding environment, we have developed and encourage a healthy work/life balance through systems and procedures as well as an analytical approach to our business. Our culture actively seeks to mentor and nurture capabilities both within our team as well as our customers and strategic partners. Inclusiveness permeates everything we do. We see past departmental walls to further develop our team and thus create an environment that innovates greater technologies for our customers. Across the board, customer satisfaction is of topmost importance and it's in part because our team truly cares about what they are creating and the relationships with our customers.
   
   Our company fosters a family-like workplace and offers many opportunities to grow, learn new skills and collaborate with our team of professionals on a multitude of projects. Become a member of our winning team of motivated people who design and build equipment for our customers who rely on the equipment to produce the food that feeds the world.
   
   Our company fosters a family-like workplace and offers many opportunities to grow, learn new skills and collaborate with our team of professionals on a multitude of projects. Become a member of our winning team of motivated people who design and build equipment for our customers who rely on the equipment to produce the food that feeds the world.
   Our team is currently looking for Automation professionals in the following areas: Assembly and Testing Start-Up and Commissioning Service Experience with Inductive Automation’s Ignition, Allen Bradley and Opto 22 PLCs, and Rockwell and Schneider VFDs is a plus. We'd love to see your resume and hear a bit about you. Unfortunately, we cannot accept international applicants at this time. Powered by JazzHR 9c6jL8UWf3

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find automation control technicians for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your automation control technician job on Zippia to find and recruit automation control technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting automation control technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new automation control technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the automation control technician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new automation control technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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