Controls Engineer Salary: How Much Can You Make?

Key takeaways

Controls engineers in the United States command higher-than-average salaries. Below are some important facts to know:

• The annual median total pay for a controls engineer in the US is $130,000, according to Glassdoor [1].

• San Carlos, California and Sitka, Alaska are among the top-paying cities for controls engineers. 

• You can earn significantly more by earning a master’s degree.

Explore controls engineer salary insights by expertise level, location, and company. Afterward, consider enrolling in Rice University’s Engineering Project Management Specialization to build essential project management skills. 

What does a controls engineer do?

A controls engineer or control systems engineer oversees and analyzes the systems involved with equipment production. Their primary responsibility is to enhance the design, layout, and placement of devices or machinery. These processes involve mechanical devices as well as organization members and stakeholders. For this reason, control engineers are technically proficient, highly skilled communicators.

Job outlook for controls engineers

Control systems engineers belong to the occupational field of architecture and engineering and are a type of electrical engineer. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 7 percent job growth for electrical engineers between 2024 and 2034, most of which can be attributed to engineering rather than architecture. This growth statistic translates into around 17,500 openings each year [2]. According to Glassdoor, the top three highest paying industries for controls engineers as of 2026 are aerospace and defense, media and communication, as well as government and public administration [1].

Average salary for controls engineers

The median total pay for a controls engineer in the US is $130,000 per year. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation [1].

Job titles for controls engineers

Controls engineer jobs can vary slightly in responsibilities and pay, despite the primary job function being the same. Often, these differences depend on the industry or specialization to which the role belongs. Here are a few different job titles in this field and their respective salaries, according to Glassdoor:

• Project controls engineer: $120,000

• Junior controls engineer: $126,000

• Process control engineer: $129,000

• Automation controls engineer: $135,000

• Electrical controls engineer: $138,000

• Control systems engineer: $159,000

• Senior controls engineer: $168,000

Highest-paying cities for controls engineers

One of the factors that can influence the average salary of control systems engineers is location. Still, remember that factors like the cost of living can also impact wages. The following average annual US salaries were sourced from ZipRecruiter in August 2026 [3]:

Highest paying companies for controls engineers

According to Glassdoor, the following are some of the highest paying companies for controls engineers in the US, and their respective estimated salaries [1]:

• Meta: $264,000

• Google: $262,000

• Nuro: $260,000

• Apple: $197,000

• SpaceX: $197,000

Is controls engineering in demand?

Yes, controls engineering is in demand. Technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), require the assistance of controls engineers. Robotics, automation, and other cutting-edge technologies will make controls engineers in high demand. 

Read more: How to Learn Robotics: A Guide

3 ways to increase your controls engineer pay

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average controls engineer salary is well above the US average wage of $49,500 per year for all occupations [4]. Additionally, you can take several actions to increase your salary further and build upon your expertise.

For example, many job listings cite a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline, making it the best degree for a controls engineer. However, some senior-level positions, like a lead control systems engineer, may require a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. These roles tend to pay higher than the average control engineer salary due to the levels of experience and expertise needed to perform them.

1. Earn Professional Certificates for essential skills.

Earning a Professional Certificate in a relevant area of expertise is an excellent way to demonstrate your value to employers. The list below matches a couple of essential skills for control engineers to certification programs you can use to gain them.

• Risk management: Control engineers regularly confer with stakeholders to identify, assess, and manage risks. They are integral to the project planning process and must be confident in their decision-making ability. To increase your risk management capabilities, consider earning a certificate from the University of Leeds in Major Engineering Projects: Governance, Risk and Scope.

• Leadership: Many control systems engineers lead engineering and automation teams through concept planning, configuration, and development. This responsibility requires high-level leadership and people management skills. You can enhance your engineering leadership skills with Rice University’s Leadership Development for Engineers Specialization. 

2. Enhance your resume.

Enhancing your resume is a vital step for any job seeker to take. One way to ensure that recruiters notice your resume is to match the language you use to describe your skill set to the language employers use in job postings. Often, employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to process applicants quickly. These systems filter by keywords, meaning you have a better chance of being selected if your language matches the language they’ve input in the ATS. 

3. Stay current with industry trends and technologies.

Controls engineers work in several different industries. Once you have decided on a specialization to pursue, consider following industry leaders and fellow professionals in that field. They likely post blogs and share social media insights that you can use to identify in-demand skills and tools. For example, r/controlengineering is a Reddit community of current or aspiring engineers who share wisdom and ask questions forum-style. The insight you gain from staying up to date on industry trends can help you further optimize your resume. 

Explore our free resources for controls engineers

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn to get weekly updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications in controls engineering. Check out these other helpful resources:

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Get expert tips: Reimagining Work and Learning with AI: Expert Insights from Dr. Jules White

• Learn practical skills: AI Problem-Solving Tactics: Expert Insights from Vanderbilt’s Dr. Jules White

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