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The differences between commissioning technicians and controls technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a commissioning technician, becoming a controls technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a commissioning technician has an average salary of $72,504, which is higher than the $53,345 average annual salary of a controls technician.
The top three skills for a commissioning technician include start-up, HVAC and cooling towers. The most important skills for a controls technician are PLC, control systems, and preventative maintenance.
| Commissioning Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $72,504 | $53,345 |
| Hourly rate | $34.86 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | - | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 49,419 | 53,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A commissioning technician will work closely with commissioning engineers in supervising the final phase of a project following the installation and testing of systems. You will be responsible for inspecting and correcting the functioning of the facilities, equipment, and plants and perform repairs and maintenance as necessary. As a commissioning technician, it is also your responsibility to create and conduct test procedures, and perform routine equipment maintenance. You will also be responsible for investigating and diagnosing problems and find solutions to address them.
A controls technician is in charge of operating various systems within a building or facility. Although the responsibilities will vary upon the line of work or employment, the duties still revolve around using software to control types of machinery and systems such as manufacturing devices and equipment, even lighting and ventilation. It is crucial to coordinate with department managers and supervisors to avoid any technical problems and ensure a safe work environment for everyone.
Commissioning technicians and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commissioning Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average salary | $72,504 | $53,345 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $105,000 | Between $37,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a commissioning technician and a controls technician in terms of educational background:
| Commissioning Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between commissioning technicians' and controls technicians' demographics:
| Commissioning Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.1% Female, 4.9% | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |