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The differences between electrical mechanical technicians and controls technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an electrical mechanical technician and a controls technician. Additionally, an electrical mechanical technician has an average salary of $53,363, which is higher than the $53,345 average annual salary of a controls technician.
The top three skills for an electrical mechanical technician include hand tools, control systems and preventive maintenance. The most important skills for a controls technician are PLC, control systems, and preventative maintenance.
| Electrical Mechanical Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $53,363 | $53,345 |
| Hourly rate | $25.66 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 120,534 | 53,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An electrical and mechanical technician specializes in the installation and maintenance of electrical systems and mechanical equipment. They may work in various industries, and they can also work as an independent contractor who provides technical services to homes and establishments. Although the extent of their duties depends on their company or industry of employment, it usually includes conducting inspections to identify issues or needs, troubleshoot problems, replace or fix systems, clean particular areas, and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency.
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 mechanical technicians and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Mechanical Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average salary | $53,363 | $53,345 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $69,000 | Between $37,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Mateo, CA | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | OMNOVA Solutions | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between an electrical mechanical technician and a controls technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Mechanical Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between electrical mechanical technicians' and controls technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Mechanical Technician | Controls Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 6% | 6% |