Controls Technician Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in the United States was $78,190 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers in this occupation and area earned between $61,610 and $97,650. This is the broader occupation used for Controls Technician, not a separately surveyed rate for that title or credential.
Broader occupation Our title "Controls Technician" is reported by BLS as SOC 17-3023 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians. BLS groups Controls Technician within Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023), the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $49,510, half earned less than the median of $78,190, 90% earned less than $115,700 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,510 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $61,610 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $78,190 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $97,650 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $115,700 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $80,680 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023), the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $23.80, half earned less than the median of $37.59, 90% earned less than $55.62 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23.80 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $29.62 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $37.59 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $46.95 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $55.62 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $38.79 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 95,130 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-3023 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, National.
What BLS wages measure. OEWS estimates describe straight-time gross wages, not just base salary and not total compensation. They include commissions and production bonuses. They exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. Discuss travel, per diem, tool and truck allowances separately. Percentiles describe the occupation's wage distribution, not seniority, plant size, job complexity or credentials. Licensing, union agreements and prevailing-wage obligations depend on the work and assignment; these figures do not establish a premium for them.
Official BLS wage definitions | Source dates and methodology
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
New York City and Northern New Jersey share the New York-Newark-Jersey City BLS area and one estimate, shown once below.
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $76,900 | $62,180 to $90,560 | 710 | 0.41 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $66,890 | $58,520 to $78,230 | 910 | 1.02 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $65,700 | $57,790 to $82,930 | 840 | 0.97 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $72,640 | $60,800 to $86,880 | 500 | 1.11 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $82,000 | $65,380 to $103,020 | 2,960 | 0.51 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $75,580 | $58,930 to $89,990 | 2,720 | 1.1 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $69,410 | $50,950 to $93,620 | 2,200 | 1.09 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $85,510 | $71,850 to $101,450 | 1,590 | 0.58 |
How does Controls Technician pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 17-3023, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $99,720 | Annual | 6,310 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $99,720 | Annual | 6,310 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $99,550 | Annual | 6,020 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $107,600 | Annual | 280 |
| Construction | 23 | $68,640 | Annual | 3,190 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $75,010 | Annual | 50 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $75,010 | Annual | 50 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $80,370 | Annual | 350 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $79,940 | Annual | 260 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $80,480 | Annual | 90 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $67,300 | Annual | 2,790 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $67,290 | Annual | 2,790 |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $82,360 | Annual | 280 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $86,460 | Annual | 40 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 311300 | $84,310 | Annual | 50 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 311400 | $60,490 | Annual | 40 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $82,760 | Annual | 60 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $78,050 | Annual | 30 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 312000 | $83,910 | Annual | 40 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $73,190 | Annual | 38,090 |
| Textile Product Mills | 314000 | $80,490 | Annual | 50 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | 314100 | $80,490 | Annual | 50 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 321000 | $85,630 | Annual | 40 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $85,310 | Annual | 470 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $80,060 | Annual | 210 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $90,790 | Annual | 260 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $107,110 | Annual | 200 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $107,110 | Annual | 200 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $86,600 | Annual | 1,000 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $87,120 | Annual | 800 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $75,250 | Annual | 60 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $82,030 | Annual | 140 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $77,120 | Annual | 330 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $77,960 | Annual | 270 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $69,140 | Annual | 60 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $82,360 | Annual | 290 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $76,280 | Annual | 840 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 331100 | $74,330 | Annual | 230 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $64,730 | Annual | 110 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $84,870 | Annual | 230 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $86,730 | Annual | 220 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $81,210 | Annual | 50 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $61,090 | Annual | 1,070 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $66,080 | Annual | 510 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $60,300 | Annual | 300 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $58,480 | Annual | 120 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $60,850 | Annual | 150 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $64,990 | Annual | 3,020 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $65,780 | Annual | 2,470 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $57,940 | Annual | 300 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $65,150 | Annual | 130 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $77,930 | Annual | 130 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $72,080 | Annual | 21,230 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | $61,620 | Annual | 1,540 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334200 | $63,950 | Annual | 1,990 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 334300 | $59,590 | Annual | 140 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $73,460 | Annual | 9,690 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $75,180 | Annual | 7,870 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335000 | $62,000 | Annual | 3,900 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 335100 | $55,310 | Annual | 370 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | 335200 | $60,240 | Annual | 180 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $62,400 | Annual | 1,680 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $61,880 | Annual | 1,680 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $80,720 | Annual | 4,670 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $78,520 | Annual | 210 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $55,150 | Annual | 90 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $65,510 | Annual | 790 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $85,260 | Annual | 2,990 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 336500 | $86,550 | Annual | 230 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $82,160 | Annual | 220 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $69,940 | Annual | 140 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339000 | $62,120 | Annual | 590 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $62,120 | Annual | 380 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $61,620 | Annual | 220 |
| Rail Transportation | 482000 | $105,540 | Annual | 60 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $105,540 | Annual | 60 |
| Pipeline Transportation | 486000 | $104,340 | Annual | 190 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 486100 | $110,110 | Annual | 60 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 486200 | $94,660 | Annual | 110 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $78,110 | Annual | 100 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $83,680 | Annual | 80 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493000 | $61,670 | Annual | 110 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $61,670 | Annual | 110 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $75,000 | Annual | 120 |
| Real Estate | 531000 | $79,540 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $74,580 | Annual | 20,640 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $74,580 | Annual | 20,640 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $75,650 | Annual | 12,120 |
| Specialized Design Services | 541400 | $82,000 | Annual | 230 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | $69,240 | Annual | 2,510 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $59,410 | Annual | 820 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $79,160 | Annual | 4,570 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $59,130 | Annual | 350 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $85,020 | Annual | 60 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $80,930 | Annual | 50 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $71,330 | Annual | 400 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 811200 | $75,660 | Annual | 210 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $68,630 | Annual | 200 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
HVAC Foreman (47-1011)Sheet Metal Foreman (47-1011)HVAC Superintendent (11-9021)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $106,250 | 250 | 4.31 | 1.68 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $103,480 | 50 | 0.51 | 2.18 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $103,170 | 540 | 2.59 | 2.17 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $102,640 | 310 | 7.11 | 1.60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $102,380 | 290 | 1.14 | 2.10 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $102,250 | 390 | 1.57 | 2.13 |
| Casper, WY | $99,840 | 40 | 1.78 | 2.04 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,180 | 1,570 | 1.23 | 1.35 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $97,740 | 40 | 0.58 | 2.14 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $97,680 | 690 | 3.48 | 1.86 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $57,750 | 110 | 0.85 | 1.29 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $57,730 | 50 | 1.59 | 2.18 |
| Longview, TX | $57,650 | 100 | 1.34 | 1.28 |
| State College, PA | $56,320 | 50 | 1.16 | 1.14 |
| Johnson City, TN | $54,810 | 60 | 1.24 | 1.26 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $53,640 | 80 | 1.35 | 1.10 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $50,080 | 330 | 0.78 | 1.70 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $45,840 | 40 | 0.97 | 0.99 |
| Mayaguez, PR | $42,040 | 30 | 1.08 | 1.66 |
| Logan, UT-ID | $37,280 | 140 | 3.49 | 0.80 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician), the published median for SOC 17-3023, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, is $78,190 per year. The middle half of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) wage distribution runs from $61,610 to $97,650, a width of $36,040 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) comparison used for Controls Technician, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports $78,190 per year while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports $81,940 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) reference for Controls Technician pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, read alongside Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician), are Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil at $110,110 per year (NAICS 486100); Natural Gas Distribution at $107,600 per year (NAICS 221200); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $107,110 per year (NAICS 324000). Those Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) median was $77,180 per year in May 2024, compared with $78,190 in May 2025, a published difference of $1,010. That Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $77,180 and $78,190 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before using $78,190 per year from Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) to calibrate an offer, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) BLS comparison measures straight-time gross wages, including commissions and production bonuses, but excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) is broader: BLS groups Controls Technician within Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. For a Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) opening, establish the equipment, license requirements and responsibility before deciding which people the pay range should attract. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) buyer?
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) has a published middle-half band of $61,610 to $97,650, a width of $36,040 per year, with median $78,190. An offer inside that Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician)?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician). Comparing those Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians tables with the $78,190 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician)?
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) uses national industry rows for SOC 17-3023, not local sector-specific wages. Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil leads the selected sortable rows at $110,110 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician).
What changed between the releases for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician)?
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) moved from $77,180 in May 2024 to $78,190 in May 2025. These Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023) in National (reference for Controls Technician) published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 17-3023. Published annual median: $77,180 (May 2024) and $78,190 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.