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The average salary for a Controls Technician in the United States is approximately $53,345 per year, translating to around $26 per hour. These technicians play an essential role in maintaining and repairing automated systems across various industries, including manufacturing, energy, and technology.
Several factors influence a Controls Technician's salary, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For example, technicians in states like California and Texas often earn higher salaries due to the demand for skilled professionals in technology-driven sectors.
State salaries can vary significantly. For instance, technicians in higher-paying states might see salaries exceeding $60,000, while those in less populated areas may earn closer to $45,000. A thorough review of salary data reveals trends that can assist job seekers in making informed decisions about their career paths.
Industries such as aerospace and defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing typically offer the highest salaries for Controls Technicians. Pursuing certifications and specialized training can further enhance earning potential, making it beneficial for technicians to invest in their professional development.
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The average controls technician salary in Hawaii, Illinois, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average controls technician salary states are Florida, Arkansas, and Oregon.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $56,954 | $27.38 |
| 2 | Alaska | $63,037 | $30.31 |
| 3 | Illinois | $63,136 | $30.35 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $58,574 | $28.16 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $57,446 | $27.62 |
| 6 | Indiana | $56,109 | $26.98 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $67,362 | $32.39 |
| 8 | Nevada | $57,618 | $27.70 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $57,506 | $27.65 |
| 10 | Delaware | $55,860 | $26.86 |
| 11 | Vermont | $55,358 | $26.61 |
| 12 | New York | $59,209 | $28.47 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $52,569 | $25.27 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $59,336 | $28.53 |
| 15 | Michigan | $52,457 | $25.22 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $57,037 | $27.42 |
| 17 | Georgia | $53,553 | $25.75 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $51,256 | $24.64 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $52,982 | $25.47 |
| 20 | Washington | $57,499 | $27.64 |
| 21 | Utah | $52,380 | $25.18 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $56,711 | $27.26 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $54,090 | $26.00 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $53,823 | $25.88 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $53,201 | $25.58 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $53,594 | $25.77 |
| 27 | California | $55,432 | $26.65 |
| 28 | Idaho | $54,374 | $26.14 |
| 29 | Virginia | $52,222 | $25.11 |
| 30 | Montana | $52,961 | $25.46 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| 32 | Maryland | $53,029 | $25.49 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $52,521 | $25.25 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $49,692 | $23.89 |
| 35 | Colorado | $49,908 | $23.99 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $51,634 | $24.82 |
| 37 | Ohio | $49,633 | $23.86 |
| 38 | Missouri | $51,576 | $24.80 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania | $50,621 | $24.34 |
| 40 | Arizona | $48,269 | $23.21 |
| 41 | Iowa | $47,166 | $22.68 |
| 42 | Minnesota | $49,546 | $23.82 |
| 43 | Florida | $46,715 | $22.46 |
| 44 | Alabama | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $48,649 | $23.39 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $46,584 | $22.40 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $48,253 | $23.20 |
| 48 | Texas | $47,605 | $22.89 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $45,164 | $21.71 |
| 50 | Oregon | $46,531 | $22.37 |
| 51 | Kansas | $43,700 | $21.01 |
The highest-paying cities for controls technicians are Buffalo Grove, IL, New York, NY, and San Jose, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $63,416 | $30.49 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $59,213 | $28.47 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $58,230 | $28.00 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,145 | $27.47 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $56,784 | $27.30 |
| 6 | Richmond, IN | $56,389 | $27.11 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $53,735 | $25.83 |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK | $53,669 | $25.80 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $53,595 | $25.77 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $53,509 | $25.73 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,242 | $25.60 |
| 12 | Greensboro, NC | $53,239 | $25.60 |
| 13 | Frederick, MD | $52,935 | $25.45 |
| 14 | Midland, MI | $52,772 | $25.37 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $52,647 | $25.31 |
| 16 | Salt Lake City, UT | $52,214 | $25.10 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $51,683 | $24.85 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,985 | $24.51 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $50,685 | $24.37 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $49,914 | $24.00 |
Controls Technicians are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A controls technician's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $75,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $53,345 | $4,445 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of controls technicians are controls engineer, remotely piloted vehicle engineering technician, and engineering technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Maintenance Technician | $59,898 | $4,991 | $28.80 | 206,538 |
| Controls Engineer | $84,532 | $7,044 | $40.64 | 50,203 |
| Electronics Repair Technician | $41,516 | $3,460 | $19.96 | 60,023 |
| Engineering Technician | $60,273 | $5,023 | $28.98 | 111,343 |
| Electromechanical Technician | $50,706 | $4,225 | $24.38 | 71,211 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
Top companies hiring controls technicians now:
Controls technician salaries at BP America Inc and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average controls technician salary at companies like Ernst & Young and Jacobs Engineering Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BP America Inc | $83,843 | $40.31 |
| 2 | Amazon | $78,475 | $37.73 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young | $78,077 | $37.54 |
| 4 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $76,517 | $36.79 |
| 5 | LUFKIN Industries | $75,107 | $36.11 |
| 6 | Hologic | $74,419 | $35.78 |
| 7 | Regeneron | $73,545 | $35.36 |
| 8 | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | $73,397 | $35.29 |
| 9 | Sandia National Labs | $73,165 | $35.18 |
| 10 | Bayer | $73,115 | $35.15 |
| 11 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $72,892 | $35.04 |
| 12 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $72,757 | $34.98 |
| 13 | Zoetis | $72,163 | $34.69 |
| 14 | Merck | $72,159 | $34.69 |
| 15 | GameStop | $72,027 | $34.63 |
| 16 | Fluor Corporation | $70,977 | $34.12 |
| 17 | Northern Trust | $70,956 | $34.11 |
| 18 | Carrier | $69,927 | $33.62 |
| 19 | AstraZeneca | $69,863 | $33.59 |
| 20 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $69,848 | $33.58 |
The average controls technician salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $59,464 | $28.59 |
| 2 | Automotive | $58,163 | $27.96 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $57,476 | $27.63 |
| 4 | Technology | $57,001 | $27.40 |
| 5 | Professional | $52,848 | $25.41 |
| 6 | Government | $38,050 | $18.29 |
The average controls technician salary has risen by $7,654 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average controls technician earned $45,691 annually, but today, they earn $53,345 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for controls technicians over the last decade.
Compare controls technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare controls technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,300 | $25.65 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $52,100 | $25.02 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $51,600 | $24.78 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $50,600 | $24.33 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $49,600 | $23.85 | +4.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy | Substation Automation Technician | Berlin, CT | 06/30/2025 | $80,370 |
| Herbalife | Industrial Automation Technician-2Nd Shift | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/30/2025 | $63,173 |
| Jeppesen | Environmental Control Technician B | Renton, WA | 06/30/2025 | $52,175 |
| Axogen | Material Control Technician-3Rd Shift | Vandalia, OH | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Rossstores | DC Controls Technician | Riverside, CA | 06/29/2025 | $70,332 |
| Wipfli | Outsourced Accounting Controller-Technology Industry Clients | Naperville, IL | 06/29/2025 | $103,000 |
| Mantis | Controls Technician II | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| Millerbernd Manufacturing Company LLC | Automation Technician-Weekend Shift | Winsted, MN | 06/29/2025 | $58,540 |
| Swiss Krono Usa | Shift Controls Technician | Barnwell, SC | 06/29/2025 | $69,393 |
| Agropur Inc. | Automation Technician | Little Chute, WI | 06/29/2025 | $73,880 |
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