Salary guide, May 2025
Lead Controls Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in the United States was $120,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,830 and $152,950.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers
Lead Controls Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $76,550 | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 | $184,300 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36.80 | $44.63 | $58.00 | $73.53 | $88.61 |
BLS estimated 198,750 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $102,800 | $82,570 to $133,070 | 2,050 | 0.57 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $102,110 | $79,580 to $129,990 | 1,500 | 0.81 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $119,080 | $80,730 to $128,490 | 2,010 | 1.11 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,240 | $82,280 to $169,310 | 1,500 | 1.58 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,340 | $100,600 to $158,880 | 6,290 | 0.52 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $128,340 | $100,600 to $158,880 | 6,290 | 0.52 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $124,390 | $89,410 to $161,080 | 5,720 | 1.11 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $113,520 | $92,320 to $134,330 | 4,290 | 0.74 |
Rank every metro for Lead Controls Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$141,160
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$137,540
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$137,540
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$133,080
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$133,020
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$131,920
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$129,990
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$129,370
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$129,210
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$128,580
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$128,460
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$128,320
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$127,620
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$127,050
- Chemical Manufacturing$126,460
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 57,140 | $93,240 | $117,360 | $152,640 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 20,460 | $97,690 | $128,320 | $166,710 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 12,980 | $101,660 | $129,210 | $166,510 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 9,380 | $96,930 | $121,610 | $162,200 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 9,360 | $79,350 | $98,790 | $124,950 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 8,950 | $110,900 | $141,160 | $171,950 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 8,030 | $83,490 | $101,840 | $127,270 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 7,650 | $99,960 | $131,920 | $173,450 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,050 | $83,140 | $100,820 | $126,980 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 5,450 | $77,150 | $96,410 | $123,860 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,860 | $82,640 | $102,550 | $129,630 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 1,720 | $99,150 | $128,580 | $163,650 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,640 | $90,010 | $105,390 | $127,270 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1,290 | $84,850 | $101,730 | $125,040 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 1,230 | $78,360 | $133,080 | $177,610 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 1,090 | $98,960 | $126,460 | $150,400 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 910 | $98,790 | $125,250 | $140,960 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 860 | $81,690 | $101,230 | $125,170 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 840 | $85,020 | $102,160 | $127,180 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 830 | $102,850 | $129,990 | $154,320 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 800 | $88,390 | $111,580 | $128,340 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 690 | $90,800 | $105,350 | $128,890 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 690 | $80,250 | $99,540 | $124,850 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 620 | $103,600 | $128,460 | $156,370 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 500 | $90,850 | $103,660 | $128,230 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 450 | $100,630 | $126,050 | $133,820 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 440 | $106,130 | $129,370 | $139,020 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 440 | $102,170 | $133,020 | $173,730 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $95,740 | $127,050 | $163,320 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 410 | $117,140 | $137,540 | $165,390 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 410 | $117,140 | $137,540 | $165,390 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 330 | $87,980 | $106,380 | $126,240 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 300 | $88,120 | $109,520 | $128,700 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 300 | $90,330 | $113,140 | $126,540 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 300 | $90,330 | $113,140 | $126,540 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 290 | $104,190 | $127,620 | $137,760 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 280 | $87,430 | $101,880 | $129,590 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 270 | $79,150 | $96,930 | $109,750 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 240 | $106,670 | $120,840 | $134,500 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 240 | $80,590 | $98,070 | $122,800 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 230 | $43,440 | $84,540 | $107,620 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 210 | $84,950 | $104,310 | $124,620 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 200 | $95,920 | $111,480 | $143,660 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 200 | $95,050 | $100,120 | $122,060 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 200 | $82,390 | $99,070 | $122,800 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 190 | $91,210 | $108,760 | $124,950 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 180 | $78,930 | $104,370 | $135,820 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 180 | $92,980 | $109,260 | $140,930 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 160 | $100,000 | $114,830 | $129,520 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 100 | $78,320 | $103,310 | $125,640 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 90 | $83,730 | $95,180 | $120,430 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 90 | $98,700 | $116,530 | $129,710 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 70 | $28,940 | $108,610 | $125,120 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 70 | $99,920 | $111,140 | $128,470 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 60 | $83,610 | $103,600 | $118,940 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 60 | $78,320 | $87,440 | $103,090 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 60 | $75,750 | $85,890 | $100,340 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 50 | $99,090 | $113,410 | $125,670 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 50 | $101,030 | $108,730 | $123,830 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 40 | $87,980 | $101,380 | $115,300 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 40 | $79,130 | $102,960 | $131,000 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 40 | $82,100 | $96,210 | $122,020 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 40 | $87,830 | $102,140 | $122,310 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 40 | $62,650 | $83,030 | $98,070 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 30 | $87,830 | $104,860 | $122,670 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $98,780 | $117,020 | $158,960 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Lead Controls Engineer, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $87,590 | $111,910 | $141,630 |
| May 2025 | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the authority you are offering?
Settle technical approval authority versus ownership of the entire automation department before outreach begins. We put the difference around technical approval authority versus ownership of the entire automation department in front of you so the interview tests missing experience rather than assuming it is already there.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. 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.
What is the median pay for a Lead Controls Engineer?
The median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in the United States was $120,630 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $92,830 and $152,950. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $76,550. 90% earned less than $184,300.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. 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.
Is this the pay for a Lead Controls Engineer at a plant?
Lead Controls Engineer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 198,750 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters offers this salary insight for the Lead Controls Engineer, mapped to the SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers. The national median for this occupation is $120,630, which represents an increase of $8,720 from the previous year. A middle-band width of $60,120 lies between the P25 at $92,830 and the P75 at $152,950, revealing the market spread for experienced electrical engineers.
Because this data relies on the broad electrical engineering SOC classification, it does not specifically distinguish lead controls engineering from other electrical engineering roles.
National industry-specific rows show the variance in valuation for controls expertise. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports a median of $141,160, while Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports a median of $137,540. These national benchmarks reflect the competitive pay in high-complexity sectors but do not capture localized, plant-specific salary information. The BLS exclusions of bonuses, shift differentials, and variable performance incentives mean these figures represent base-level annual pay trends, not the total cash compensation typically offered for senior-level technical leadership.
Metropolitan hubs such as Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim show a median of $139,780 with a $75,750 middle-band width. New York-Newark-Jersey City shows a median of $128,340 with a $58,280 middle-band width. These metros serve as useful comparison points based on their high levels of occupational employment. A location quotient indicates the concentration of these engineering roles in the area but does not function as a proxy for the actual pay, nor does it indicate the competitiveness of the local candidate pool for controls-specific talent.
The screening context centers on a controls architecture review identifying commissioning risks, emphasizing technical approval authority rather than general department management. Since the mapping is to the broad SOC 17-2071, the data captures a wide population of electrical engineers. These figures are exact as provided; no estimates or adjustments have been made for the controls-specific nature of this role. Utilize these figures as a guideline for market pay, ensuring that the Lead Controls Engineer role's duties fall within the professional scope and rigor defined by the electrical engineering classification.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the primary limitation when using this data for a Lead Controls Engineer?
The main limitation is that the SOC 17-2071 category is very broad and encompasses all electrical engineering disciplines. It does not specifically track lead controls engineers, leading to a generalized salary range.
How does the national industry median for Petroleum and Coal products compare to the national average?
The Petroleum industry median of $137,540 is higher than the national electrical engineering median of $120,630, confirming that this industry pays a premium for controls-related electrical skills.
Why is the middle-band width a useful metric for this role?
The $60,120 width demonstrates that compensation for senior electrical roles is highly variable and depends on individual expertise, local market factors, and organizational complexity.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4