Skip to main content

Controls Electrician Jobs

Commercial and Industrial Electrician Job Alerts

Get new commercial and industrial electrician jobs delivered weekly.

Industrial Automation Careers
Controls Electrician Jobs

Controls electricians install, wire, program, and troubleshoot automated control systems: PLCs, HMIs, motor control centers, and instrumentation. The work sits where traditional electrical trade meets automation technology, and it pays among the highest wages in the field.

These roles span industrial manufacturing, process facilities, and commercial building automation, and demand keeps climbing.
At A Glance

Quick Facts

01

Typical Salary Range

$72,000 to $110,000 per year. PLC programmers with panel building experience often earn more.

02

Key Platforms

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Schneider, Beckhoff.

03

Key Skills

PLC programming (ladder logic, function block), HMI development, VFD configuration, instrumentation calibration.

04

Job Outlook

Strong. Industrial automation investment is accelerating across manufacturing sectors.

05

Common Employers

System integrators, industrial manufacturers, EPC contractors, OEM equipment builders.

Market Demand

Why Demand Is Strong

Automation Investment Is Accelerating

Manufacturers are automating to address labor shortages and chase productivity gains, which directly drives demand for electricians who can both wire and program automated systems.

A Persistent Talent Shortage

Qualified controls technicians have been a long-running constraint for industrial facilities, and compensation has risen accordingly.

License Plus Programming Is Rare

Candidates who hold a journeyman license alongside PLC programming skills are especially hard to recruit, which strengthens their leverage.

Hiring Criteria

What Employers Are Looking For

  1. Journeyman experience plus PLC ability. Most roles expect journeyman electrical experience combined with demonstrated PLC programming.
  2. A major automation platform. Familiarity with at least one, most commonly Allen-Bradley or Siemens.
  3. Panel building and schematics. Reading and interpreting electrical schematics is essential, not optional.
  4. SCADA and industrial networking. Many employers value experience with SCADA systems and protocols such as EtherNet/IP or Profibus.
  5. Instrumentation calibration. A frequently requested add-on skill.
  6. Safety credentials. OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E are commonly required.
Common Questions

FAQ

How much do controls electricians earn?

Typical pay runs $72,000 to $110,000 per year, with PLC programmers who also build panels often earning above that range.

What platforms should I know?

Allen-Bradley/Rockwell and Siemens are the most commonly requested, with Mitsubishi, Schneider, and Beckhoff also in use across facilities.

What certifications are usually required?

OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E come up most often, typically on top of a journeyman license and PLC programming experience.

Who hires controls electricians?

System integrators, industrial manufacturers, EPC contractors, and OEM equipment builders are the most common employers.

Related guides: Controls Electrician Career Guide · Motor Controls Electrician Jobs Explained · Industrial Electrician Jobs · PLC Technician vs Industrial Electrician · Electrician Salary Estimator · Free Electrician Job Search Tools · Electrician Jobs By Specialty

Find Controls Electrician Jobs

Browse current openings for PLC, panel building, and automation roles.

Search Jobs

Estimate Your Salary

See what your license and programming skills are worth in your market.

Open Estimator