Salary guide, May 2025
PLC / Controls Technician pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment in Raleigh-Cary, NC was $71,880 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $65,790 and $81,090.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $2,210 below the national median of $74,090, both from BLS May 2025.
Closest proxy · SOC 49-2094 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
The PLC / Controls Technician title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $52,690 | $65,790 | $71,880 | $81,090 | $103,930 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.33 | $31.63 | $34.56 | $38.98 | $49.97 |
BLS estimated 230 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.74.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,840 | $60,040 | $74,090 | $88,710 | $105,590 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.52 | $28.86 | $35.62 | $42.65 | $50.77 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published PLC / Controls Technician median is $71,880. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.38 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.74 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $54,380 | $64,680 | $73,420 |
| May 2025 | $65,790 | $71,880 | $81,090 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-2094 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, Raleigh-Cary, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-2094 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $76,740 | $61,720 to $81,540 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $66,580 | $64,860 to $76,150 |
National page · PLC / Controls Technician ranked across metros
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Raleigh-Cary region, the median annual salary for a PLC / Controls Technician was $71,880 as of May 2025. This represents a solid increase of $7,200 over the May 2024 median of $64,680. The middle-band width is $15,300, reflecting the compensation spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Manufacturing Headhunters finds that these positions are increasingly valued for their role in managing Studio 5000 projects, VFD configurations, and industrial network integrity within local manufacturing environments. This range demonstrates that employers are actively adjusting their salary offers to stay competitive.
The Raleigh median salary of $71,880 is slightly lower than the national median for the occupation, which is $74,090. The national middle-band width for this SOC 49-2094 category is $28,670. National industry-wide median pay for aerospace is $109,570, and for petroleum and coal products it is $105,590. These figures serve as industry context rather than direct salary comparisons for local technicians. Employers should remember that the data excludes important compensation elements like signing bonuses, tool allowances, or shift premiums that are common in industrial manufacturing.
In neighboring areas, Durham-Chapel Hill reports a median of $76,740 and a middle-band width of $19,820. Fayetteville reports a lower median of $66,580 and a middle-band width of $11,290. Raleigh sits between these markers, showing a mid-tier compensation profile relative to its neighboring metros. The location quotient in Raleigh is 0.74, suggesting a slightly lower density of this occupation compared to the rest of the country. For hiring managers, this suggests that while local pay is rising, it remains sensitive to the local industrial sector's hiring needs. Focus on specific technical aptitude, such as HMI troubleshooting experience, to differentiate your compensation offers from the market median.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the primary driver of the $7,200 median increase in Raleigh?
The increase indicates that market competition for experienced controls technicians has intensified in the Raleigh area. Firms are likely increasing base salaries to attract and retain professionals proficient in complex industrial networking and automation.
How does the local Raleigh middle-band width compare to the national band?
The Raleigh middle-band width of $15,300 is notably narrower than the national middle-band width of $28,670. This implies that there is less pay volatility for controls technician roles in this metro area than in the national market.
Are national petroleum or aerospace wages a target for Raleigh managers?
No, those wages are national industry benchmarks. They are not local salary targets and should not be used as the primary basis for building a competitive offer in the Raleigh region.
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