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The differences between electrical controls technicians and controls technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an electrical controls technician, becoming a controls technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an electrical controls technician has an average salary of $61,087, which is higher than the $53,345 average annual salary of a controls technician.
The top three skills for an electrical controls technician include PLC, allen-bradley and electrical equipment. The most important skills for a controls technician are PLC, control systems, and preventative maintenance.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $61,087 | $53,345 |
| Hourly rate | $29.37 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | - | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 42,521 | 53,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
Electrical control technicians usually assist with running equipment such as those in amusement parks and carnivals. They can also repair equipment and are responsible for maintaining robotic machinery used by factories and plants for continuity of work and production. They can also install electrical wirings, troubleshoot minor glitches, and maintain good machine performance. With enough skills, they can shut down faulty wiring without interrupting other operations. They keep records of previous malfunctions and advise on the replacement of equipment.
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.
Electrical controls technicians and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average salary | $61,087 | $53,345 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $81,000 | Between $37,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Bunge | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls technician and a controls technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical controls technicians' and controls technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | 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% |