Salary guide, May 2025
Senior 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
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 decision behind the experience?
The useful evidence is a safe online change with testing and a rollback path, not a list of equipment or projects. Discuss what information was available during a safe online change with testing and a rollback path. A clear explanation exposes technical leadership without assuming management of all controls staff much better than asking whether the candidate has held the title before.
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 Senior 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 Senior Controls Engineer 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 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?
National industry rows indicate how specific manufacturing sectors reward control-focused work. 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 valuation of highly reliable controls in hazardous or complex production environments.
Manufacturing Headhunters provides this analysis for the Senior Controls Engineer, mapped to the SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers. The national median for this occupation is $120,630, which marks an increase of $8,720 from the previous year. The middle-band width of $60,120, spanning the P25 at $92,830 to the P75 at $152,950, reveals the wide range in market pay based on control system complexity and seniority. As this data is derived from the broader electrical engineering category, it does not exclusively separate controls work from other electrical engineering disciplines.
National industry rows indicate how specific manufacturing sectors reward control-focused work. 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 valuation of highly reliable controls in hazardous or complex production environments. BLS data excludes non-monetary benefits and variable compensation such as performance bonuses, meaning these figures represent core base salary market trends rather than total cash packages.
Regional analysis shows Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with a median of $139,780 and a middle-band width of $75,750, while New York-Newark-Jersey City reports a median of $128,340 with a $58,280 middle-band width. These metros are chosen for their high occupational employment. A location quotient serves as an employment concentration measure, not an indicator of local pay or candidate availability. These metropolitan averages reflect the broader electrical engineering market rather than the niche of controls engineering, as BLS does not provide industry-specific local data.
The screening focus on a safe online change with testing and a rollback path highlights the technical requirements of the role rather than the management of a controls department. Since the SOC 17-2071 classification is broad, the reported figures reflect a wide population of electrical engineers. These are the exact figures provided. They should not be interpreted as site-specific pay scales for a dedicated controls engineer, but as a general market range. Use this data as a guideline, assessing whether the senior controls engineering tasks fit the electrical engineering SOC definition.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Why is the SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers category used for Senior Controls Engineer data?
Controls engineering does not have a separate, dedicated SOC code in the BLS classification system. Therefore, it is mapped to the broader category of electrical engineering for statistical purposes.
How does the $60,120 middle-band width inform senior hire compensation?
The substantial middle-band width indicates that compensation is highly variable based on experience and technical rigor. It warns against applying a single national median to every senior controls hire.
Are the industry medians for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing better for assessing senior controls roles?
These industry-specific medians provide a strong benchmark for controls work in those critical environments. They represent a more specific data set than the general electrical engineering average.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4