How to hire a control systems technician

How to hire a control systems technician, step by step

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

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

What does a control systems technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the control systems technician you need to hire. Certain control systems technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect control systems technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents control systems technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Control Systems Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Control Systems Technician	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$16-42
   Network Engineer	A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs... Show more	$29-53
   Service Administrator	A service administrator is responsible for assisting the customers' inquiries and concerns, recommending service alternatives, processing refunds, and escalating high-level complaints to the service manager for immediate resolution. Service administrators receive and process orders, take customers' special instructions, and ensure that they get the highest customer satisfaction, generate more revenues, and improve the company's branding recognition... Show more	$15-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • HVAC
   • PLC
   • HMI
   • Test Equipment
   • Electrical Components
   • Hand Tools
   • Ethernet
   • Preventive Maintenance
   • OSHA
   • Logic Controllers
   • Electrical Systems
   • Ventilation
   • Windows
   • Process Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and implement a weekly schedule on SQL databases to automate the execution of maintenance plans.
   • Perform standardized safety inspections on all chemical handling and manufacturing equipment to ensure OSHA / GMP compliance.
   • Experience in Marconi ATM switches and CISCO Ethernet switches and understand switch configurations, and detect incorrect settings.
   • Programme and maintain the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix redundant Ethernet link ControlNet PLC safety alarm and shutdown system.
   • Interface with Profibus, ASI, and Ethernet.
   • Program total flow, HMI's & networking systems.

   More control systems technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your control systems technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A control systems technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, control systems technicians' average salary in montana is 41% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level control systems technicians 61% less than senior-level control systems technicians.
   • Certifications. A control systems technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a control systems technician's salary.

   Average control systems technician salary

   $55,368yearly

   $26.62 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level control systems technician salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average control systems technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$80,533	$39
   2	Oregon	$73,122	$35
   3	Nevada	$67,672	$33
   4	Virginia	$64,867	$31
   5	Arizona	$63,197	$30
   6	North Carolina	$57,865	$28
   7	Michigan	$56,311	$27
   8	Utah	$56,261	$27
   9	Illinois	$56,094	$27
   10	Florida	$53,392	$26
   11	Oklahoma	$52,927	$25
   12	Georgia	$52,287	$25
   13	Colorado	$52,199	$25
   14	Missouri	$50,954	$25
   15	Alabama	$50,327	$24
   16	Indiana	$50,231	$24
   17	Kansas	$50,049	$24
   18	Texas	$49,857	$24
   19	Iowa	$49,390	$24
   20	Tennessee	$49,182	$24

   Average control systems technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Enbridge	$114,207	$54.91	3
   2	Alameda Health System	$90,646	$43.58	2
   3	SoCalGas	$88,229	$42.42
   4	Relativity	$87,536	$42.08	109
   5	NIKA	$84,455	$40.60
   6	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$83,254	$40.03	36
   7	Alliance Co	$82,507	$39.67	16
   8	Siemens	$80,402	$38.65	110
   9	Amazon	$74,723	$35.92	398
   10	Veolia Water Tech	$72,846	$35.02	40
   11	NBCUniversal	$71,370	$34.31	27
   12	Raytheon Technologies	$71,209	$34.24	208
   13	Johnson Controls	$71,165	$34.21	149
   14	ASRC Federal	$70,959	$34.11	49
   15	Oregon Health & Science University	$69,900	$33.61	2
   16	Airlines for America	$69,845	$33.58	1
   17	T-Solutions	$69,052	$33.20
   18	AVANGRID	$68,969	$33.16
   19	HDR	$68,802	$33.08	17
   20	CareerBuilder	$68,631	$33.00

4. Writing a control systems technician job description

   A control systems technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a control systems technician job description:

   Control systems technician job description example

   Title: Industrial Automation Control Systems Technician - 1st & 2nd Shift
   Location: Elgin area
   Duration of Job: Direct Hire; or contract to hire
   
   Summary Troubleshoot and repair PLC based electrical control system. Electrical and Electronic troubleshooting of CNC turning, drilling and grinding machines. Monitor modifies and write PLC program. Plan layout and wire electrical control panel and install on industrial machinery. Good understanding of mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic system.
   
   Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
   * Troubleshoot automated production machinery, identify root cause for trouble and repair as necessary.
   * Diagnose and replace faulty electrical and electronic components of machine such as relays, switches, motors, positions sensing devices, printed circuit boards and PLCs.
   * Connect electric power to machines and equipment, and control wires between machines and monitor equipment.
   * Plan layout of wiring and install wiring, conduit, and electrical apparatus in buildings. Maintain interior and exterior lighting systems.
   * Work with mechanics and lead persons to diagnose faulty machinery.
   * Able to make simple control system using PLC (i.e Panel layout, wiring and testing).
   * Able to read and make electrical schematic drawings. Qualifications
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   Education and/or Experience
   Associate degree or equivalent experience and High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
   
   #LI-AC1
   
   Espo Corporation
   Willowbrook, IL 60527
   
   View all open jobs at:
   
   Leaders in Technical Recruiting & Staffing since 1965
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value the benefits of diversity in our work force .All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other attribute or protected characteristic by law. {Want to learn more? Click here If you need assistance applying please contact us at .

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right control systems technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit control systems technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview control systems technician candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   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 control systems technician

   Once you have selected a candidate for the control systems 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 control systems 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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How much does it cost to hire a control systems technician?