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Test automation lead vs controls technician

The differences between test automation leads and controls technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a test automation lead, becoming a controls technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a test automation lead has an average salary of $89,324, which is higher than the $53,345 average annual salary of a controls technician.

The top three skills for a test automation lead include java, scrum and jira. The most important skills for a controls technician are PLC, control systems, and preventative maintenance.

Test automation lead vs controls technician overview

Test Automation LeadControls Technician
Yearly salary$89,324$53,345
Hourly rate$42.94$25.65
Growth rate--4%
Number of jobs43,45653,158
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Associate Degree, 38%
Average age4445
Years of experience42

Test automation lead vs controls technician salary

Test automation leads and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Test Automation LeadControls Technician
Average salary$89,324$53,345
Salary rangeBetween $69,000 And $115,000Between $37,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABuffalo Grove, IL
Highest paying stateWashingtonHawaii
Best paying companyCitiBP America Inc
Best paying industryUtilitiesEnergy

Differences between test automation lead and controls technician education

There are a few differences between a test automation lead and a controls technician in terms of educational background:

Test Automation LeadControls Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Associate Degree, 38%
Most common majorComputer ScienceElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaMichigan Technological University

Test automation lead vs controls technician demographics

Here are the differences between test automation leads' and controls technicians' demographics:

Test Automation LeadControls Technician
Average age4445
Gender ratioMale, 78.0% Female, 22.0%Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage11%6%

Differences between test automation lead and controls technician duties and responsibilities

Test automation lead example responsibilities.

  • Enter the defects into JIRA and manages the resolution and documentation of these defects.
  • Perform inter-departmental audits documenting ISO compliant results with associate corrective action requests in order to achieve company-wide certification.
  • Used JIRA for creating and tracking defects.
  • Establish connection between automation scripts and PostgreSQL / DB2 to validate UI applications.
  • Involve in writing functional test cases in java language for every feature of product.
  • Coordinate communication between QA, development, BA's, UAT, and upper management throughout the entire QA cycle.
  • Show more

Controls technician example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage several environmental ECAS annual, monthly and weekly reports in cooperation with regional CEMS manager for federal compliance.
  • Establish communication links and prepare machines for bench-testing to attain UL certification.
  • Work with all electrical components, relays, sensors, ac and dc motors, drivers servo systems and pneumatics systems.
  • Perform PLC program creation and modifications and electronic modifications to production equipment.
  • Work with voltages ranging from 12 VAC to 600 VAC.
  • Conduct all professional activities within the policies of: Sandoz, EPA, OSHA, FDA and NFPA 70E.
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Test automation lead vs controls technician skills

Common test automation lead skills
  • Java, 8%
  • Scrum, 5%
  • Jira, 5%
  • QA, 4%
  • Automation Framework, 4%
  • API, 4%
Common controls technician skills
  • PLC, 8%
  • Control Systems, 7%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 7%
  • HVAC, 5%
  • HMI, 5%
  • Hand Tools, 4%

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