Process control technician vs process controller

The differences between process control technicians and process controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a process control technician, becoming a process controller takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a process controller has an average salary of $74,534, which is higher than the $52,452 average annual salary of a process control technician.

The top three skills for a process control technician include PLC, control systems and logic controllers. The most important skills for a process controller are process control, SOX, and continuous improvement.

Process control technician vs process controller overview

	Process Control Technician	Process Controller
Yearly salary	$52,452	$74,534
Hourly rate	$25.22	$35.83
Growth rate	3%	11%
Number of jobs	90,615	36,826
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	45	46
Years of experience	4	2

Process control technician vs process controller salary

Process control technicians and process controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Process Control Technician	Process Controller
Average salary	$52,452	$74,534
Salary range	Between $40,000 And $67,000	Between $49,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City	Odessa, TX	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Maryland	Wyoming
Best paying company	Stanford University	Google
Best paying industry	Automotive	Technology

Differences between process control technician and process controller education

There are a few differences between a process control technician and a process controller in terms of educational background:

	Process Control Technician	Process Controller
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Business
Most common college	Purdue University	Stanford University

Process control technician vs process controller demographics

Here are the differences between process control technicians' and process controllers' demographics:

	Process Control Technician	Process Controller
Average age	45	46
Gender ratio	Male, 81.1% Female, 18.9%	Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 4.8% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between process control technician and process controller duties and responsibilities

Process control technician example responsibilities.

Spearhead inspection and packaging equipment for pharmaceutical products per FDA regulations to achieve production goals ahead of schedule.
Help develop standard operating procedure and perform safety reviews to meet OSHA standards.
Create safety programs and lead the site in safety training in compliance with OSHA CFR29 regulations.
Direct activities to ensure that workmanship and testing conform to ISO and QS9001 specifications per customer requirements.
Maintain appropriate PLC and computer software/hardware information.
Full knowledge and understanding of an organize ISO manufacturing environment.

Process controller example responsibilities.

Manage distillation process to determine product specification compliance, and prepare unit for shutdown or turnaround process.
Develop and maintain documentation in compliance with the ISO standard.
Train new personnel in ISO procedures, and basic company rules.
Make sure safety standards and GMP's are adhere to at all times.
Design the automation profile for the evaporator area including start up, shutdown, and CIP of all evaporator equipment.
Troubleshoot PLC issues and add new control logic to address safety concerns, improve production rates, and reduce reagent usage.

Process control technician vs process controller skills

Common process control technician skills

PLC, 15%
Control Systems, 6%
Logic Controllers, 4%
Continuous Improvement, 4%
HMI, 4%
Data Entry, 3%

Common process controller skills

Process Control, 12%
SOX, 10%
Continuous Improvement, 9%
Data Entry, 8%
Process Improvement, 5%
Sigma, 4%

Process Control Technician vs. similar jobs

Process Control Technician related careers

Process Control Technician related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Architecture and Engineering Industry
Process Control Technician
Process Control Technician vs Process Controller

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse architecture and engineering jobs