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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 | Controls Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $89,324 | $53,345 |
| Hourly rate | $42.94 | $25.65 |
| Growth rate | - | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 43,456 | 53,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Test automation leads and controls technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Automation Lead | Controls Technician | |
| Average salary | $89,324 | $53,345 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $115,000 | Between $37,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Buffalo Grove, IL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Citi | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Energy |
There are a few differences between a test automation lead and a controls technician in terms of educational background:
| Test Automation Lead | Controls Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between test automation leads' and controls technicians' demographics:
| Test Automation Lead | Controls Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 11% | 6% |