Salary guide, May 2025
PLC Programmer 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 Software Developers in the United States was $135,980 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $105,210 and $171,980.
Also searched as: PLC Engineer, Controls Programmer. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 15-1252 Software Developers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $82,460 | $105,210 | $135,980 | $171,980 | $214,670 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39.64 | $50.58 | $65.38 | $82.68 | $103.21 |
BLS estimated 1,687,890 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 15-1252 Software Developers, 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 | $132,650 | $102,710 to $165,710 | 18,900 | 0.62 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $130,450 | $100,450 to $165,430 | 14,230 | 0.91 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $129,620 | $103,360 to $162,860 | 13,440 | 0.88 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $132,770 | $103,480 to $166,650 | 12,580 | 1.56 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | $130,650 to $205,970 | 121,000 | 1.17 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $166,830 | $130,650 to $205,970 | 121,000 | 1.17 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $133,290 | $105,660 to $164,100 | 67,030 | 1.52 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $134,380 | $104,530 to $167,650 | 40,370 | 0.82 |
Rank every metro for PLC Programmer
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.
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$172,360
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$169,030
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$168,400
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$161,360
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$154,470
- Other Food Manufacturing$151,710
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media$140,930
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$136,490
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$136,490
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$136,430
- Manufacturing$136,330
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$135,490
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$135,210
- Household Appliance Manufacturing$134,980
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$134,930
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 | 136,390 | $106,150 | $136,330 | $174,210 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 77,040 | $124,500 | $161,360 | $194,290 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 33,020 | $108,830 | $154,470 | $175,230 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 28,070 | $108,700 | $134,930 | $175,140 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 22,750 | $109,200 | $135,490 | $176,050 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 19,770 | $131,590 | $169,030 | $215,580 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 13,430 | $132,260 | $168,400 | $209,010 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 12,340 | $94,700 | $107,450 | $134,960 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 8,870 | $106,370 | $136,430 | $169,440 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,950 | $92,490 | $105,960 | $135,150 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 4,570 | $101,620 | $130,840 | $163,350 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 3,650 | $96,360 | $106,690 | $134,530 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 3,610 | $92,420 | $115,570 | $145,330 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 3,100 | $104,000 | $134,540 | $165,510 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,700 | $83,040 | $106,540 | $133,170 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 2,450 | $101,350 | $128,670 | $157,940 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 2,400 | $94,810 | $127,030 | $143,760 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,710 | $86,200 | $110,850 | $135,650 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 1,680 | $91,250 | $115,570 | $139,420 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,630 | $103,750 | $132,750 | $160,750 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,620 | $80,080 | $98,660 | $124,130 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 1,620 | $80,080 | $98,660 | $124,130 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,600 | $142,180 | $172,360 | $196,560 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,480 | $92,740 | $112,820 | $143,130 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,470 | $86,410 | $110,290 | $135,010 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,140 | $106,250 | $128,440 | $139,430 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,040 | $90,000 | $106,010 | $128,580 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 1,010 | $105,010 | $135,210 | $171,010 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 940 | $108,820 | $140,930 | $171,150 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 780 | $92,410 | $117,350 | $144,920 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 760 | $92,060 | $108,660 | $132,780 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 650 | $80,660 | $103,500 | $131,090 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 610 | $84,440 | $104,630 | $130,080 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 590 | $99,780 | $118,910 | $139,740 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 480 | $84,760 | $104,730 | $132,340 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 420 | $80,630 | $97,640 | $120,270 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 360 | $79,870 | $96,830 | $117,970 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 320 | $99,500 | $124,550 | $158,940 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 300 | $75,690 | $84,320 | $111,870 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 270 | $85,390 | $104,110 | $123,510 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 260 | $117,000 | $151,710 | $175,340 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 260 | $97,360 | $122,800 | $151,930 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 230 | $86,540 | $120,230 | $133,700 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 230 | $89,020 | $108,070 | $139,970 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 230 | $75,660 | $82,750 | $105,480 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 230 | $95,510 | $127,100 | $144,350 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 220 | $96,040 | $134,980 | $167,030 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 210 | $86,540 | $112,670 | $133,070 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 200 | $84,710 | $106,520 | $127,260 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 200 | $84,710 | $106,520 | $127,260 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 160 | $89,800 | $118,960 | $154,330 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 150 | $72,850 | $96,990 | $133,400 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 140 | $86,980 | $114,170 | $134,920 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 130 | $82,830 | $105,000 | $117,580 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 130 | $116,840 | $132,380 | $158,820 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 130 | $98,000 | $110,550 | $136,080 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 120 | $118,160 | $131,360 | $167,460 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 110 | $80,740 | $97,950 | $130,710 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 110 | $69,510 | $86,640 | $110,780 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 110 | $101,640 | $136,490 | $173,150 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 110 | $101,640 | $136,490 | $173,150 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 100 | $84,760 | $102,210 | $120,260 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 100 | $93,870 | $114,310 | $132,090 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 70 | $84,550 | $92,550 | $105,470 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 70 | $80,230 | $93,990 | $115,680 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 60 | $92,330 | $121,930 | $137,770 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 60 | $99,830 | $101,490 | $135,690 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 60 | $95,370 | $107,390 | $127,310 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 60 | $109,500 | $134,500 | $174,040 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 60 | $84,730 | $101,440 | $135,900 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 50 | $60,140 | $116,710 | $124,790 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 50 | $76,970 | $84,580 | $110,810 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 50 | $95,040 | $110,810 | $130,320 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 50 | $82,470 | $98,360 | $127,800 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 50 | $86,090 | $94,440 | $108,090 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 40 | $74,890 | $88,780 | $103,820 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 40 | $96,240 | $124,810 | $130,290 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 40 | $86,310 | $114,450 | $136,220 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 30 | $98,860 | $119,300 | $133,400 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $77,860 | $95,140 | $101,640 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For PLC Programmer, 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 | $103,050 | $133,080 | $169,000 |
| May 2025 | $105,210 | $135,980 | $171,980 |
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 working with maintenance and operations?
We ask how they handled a request for a quick bypass, how they documented changes and how they trained technicians. A programmer who protects the line from undocumented changes is a keeper.
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 PLC Programmer?
The median annual wage for Software Developers in the United States was $135,980 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $105,210 and $171,980. 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 $82,460. 90% earned less than $214,670.
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 PLC Programmer at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 1,687,890 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
The national role for a PLC Programmer falls under the broader BLS classification of Software Developers, code 15-1252. As this is a broad category, the BLS does not track manufacturing-specific wages. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that actual plant-floor duties such as troubleshooting live production lines, managing ladder logic, and enforcing strict code standards are captured within this generalized occupational survey data.
The national median for this role is $135,980, reflecting an increase of $2,900 from the May 2024 median of $133,080. This data excludes non-cash compensation, including production bonuses, shift differentials, and equity packages that often supplement base salaries.
A clear view of market variance is provided by the middle-band width, which is the dollar difference between the P75 and P25 percentiles. For this role, the middle-band width is $66,770, spanning from $105,210 to $171,980. These figures illustrate the significant premium paid for deep, specialized expertise compared to entry-level programming tasks. The P10 mark stands at $82,460, while proven expertise at the P90 reaches $214,670. These numbers provide the necessary baseline for structuring competitive manufacturing offers, keeping in mind that these represent reported earnings across all industries, not solely the factory environment.
Comparing the national data against major hubs shows how localized demand influences pay. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports a median of $166,830, which is higher than the national median and follows a $4,860 change from its prior median. Meanwhile, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area reports a median of $167,280, a change of -$2,060 from the prior survey. While Seattle displays a high location quotient of 4.1, indicating a high concentration of these roles, this is not a measurement of candidate availability. The wage variance between these metros and the national average highlights how regional industry density shapes the competitive environment.
Industry-specific national data provides additional context, though these are national averages for the industry sector, not for the specific PLC Programmer occupation. Motor Vehicle Manufacturing leads at $172,360, followed by Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing at $169,030 and Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing at $168,400. These sectors illustrate where demand for advanced automation programming is highest. Employers must weigh these industry-standard benchmarks against their own internal compensation structures, ensuring that base salary offers remain competitive without over-relying on generalized sector metrics.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What does the middle-band width represent for this occupation?
The middle-band width of $66,770 is the mathematical difference between the P75 and P25 percentiles. It indicates the salary range where the majority of practitioners fall, reflecting the market spread for professional experience.
How does the local median in Seattle compare to the national median?
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA median is $167,280, which is significantly higher than the national median of $135,980. This difference shows how intense competition in a dense technology hub elevates local compensation above the national average.
Why are manufacturing industry wages higher than the national average for this occupation?
Industries like Motor Vehicle Manufacturing offer $172,360, which reflects a premium for specialized automation skills required in high-throughput environments. These sector figures exceed the broader national occupation median because they represent high-demand, complex production settings.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4