SCADA / Controls Engineer Salary
This is what we do all day: recruit technology and IT professionals.
Technology Headhunters uses BLS OEWS data to answer this pay question. For SCADA / Controls Engineer, this guide uses Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) in the United States. BLS estimates the median wage for that occupation at $120,630 a year, and the middle half of workers earned between $92,830 and $152,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025). BLS does not measure this exact title separately.
Broader occupation
BLS does not report this exact title. The figures shown are for SOC 17-2071, Electrical Engineers. BLS reports Electrical Engineers as a broader occupation. It does not separate SCADA / Controls Engineer, technology stack, seniority, certifications or employer sector. These figures are not a title-specific offer range.
| Measure | Per year |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $76,550 |
| 25th percentile | $92,830 |
| Median | $120,630 |
| 75th percentile | $152,950 |
| 90th percentile | $184,300 |
| Mean | $125,100 |
| Measure | Per hour |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36.80 |
| 25th percentile | $44.63 |
| Median | $58.00 |
| 75th percentile | $73.53 |
| 90th percentile | $88.61 |
| Mean | $60.15 |
Only a cell carrying the source's # marker is displayed as "or more." The May 2025 release notes define that marker as $239,200 a year or $115.00 an hour or greater. This is a lower bound for marked cells, not a universal wage ceiling. Published numeric values, including values above those amounts, are retained unchanged. Suppressed or unavailable cells are not assigned a wage.
BLS estimates 198,750 people work in this occupation nationally.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, the United States. Released 2026-05-15. The source index links to the release workbooks; it is not a link to an individual wage row. Methodology and mapping notes.
These are published government statistical wage estimates, not observed individual offers or a separate technology-title survey. A broader occupation or proxy is not separate pay data for your job title.
Recruiter's read
Qualitative hiring context. Not BLS data.
The figures describe Electrical Engineers, not a separately measured SCADA / Controls Engineer title. Confirm the systems, users and escalation responsibilities this person will own. Write down the work location and attendance policy. Discuss equity and RSUs separately; this guide adds no premium for them.
Questions answered by BLS data
What is the median pay for SCADA / Controls Engineer?
BLS reports a median of $120,630 a year for SOC 17-2071, Electrical Engineers, in the United States (May 2025). Half of workers earned less and half earned more.
What is the pay range for SCADA / Controls Engineer?
10% of workers in this occupation earned less than $76,550. 10% earned more than $184,300.
How many SCADA / Controls Engineer jobs are there?
BLS estimates 198,750 workers in SOC 17-2071 nationally in May 2025.
Does BLS publish this exact job title?
Not exactly. SCADA / Controls Engineer is shown using SOC 17-2071, Electrical Engineers, a broader occupation. BLS reports Electrical Engineers as a broader occupation. It does not separate SCADA / Controls Engineer, technology stack, seniority, certifications or employer sector. These figures are not a title-specific offer range.
Which of our target metros reports the highest median for SCADA / Controls Engineer?
Raleigh-Cary, NC , at $130,240 a year (May 2025).
Are percentiles the same as experience levels?
No. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than that amount. BLS does not report pay by experience.
Related roles
Download the source data for this role (CSV) · Methodology
What changed between the published releases?
These are BLS survey estimates for SOC 17-2071, Electrical Engineers. They are not a projection or a comparison of the same individual workers.
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $111,910 |
| May 2025 | $120,630 |
How do published wages differ by industry?
These national rows describe private establishments in BLS four-digit industry groups. Industry names are shown as BLS publishes them. They do not include government establishments. An industry figure is still an occupation estimate, not local pay for this exact title.
View the published industry table
| Industry | NAICS | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 211100 | $125,270 | $163,810 | $210,440 | $172,280 | 440 |
| Coal Mining | 212100 | $121,700 | $144,070 | $162,530 | $145,630 | 30 |
| Metal Ore Mining | 212200 | $102,040 | $124,190 | $126,150 | $122,410 | 30 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 212300 | $121,000 | $130,010 | $140,610 | $135,730 | 70 |
| Support Activities for Mining | 213100 | $82,370 | $100,380 | $138,440 | $113,080 | 160 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $99,220 | $122,430 | $136,730 | $120,070 | 20330 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $120,990 | $153,150 | $171,990 | $146,060 | 1910 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $84,050 | $127,400 | $157,690 | $122,210 | 710 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $78,810 | $100,280 | $126,850 | $112,430 | 1510 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $77,020 | $91,380 | $127,810 | $103,310 | 120 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $80,080 | $98,550 | $124,870 | $105,890 | 8540 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $66,140 | $92,770 | $104,380 | $88,940 | 50 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $83,730 | $95,180 | $120,430 | $106,080 | 90 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 311300 | $99,090 | $113,410 | $125,670 | $109,000 | 50 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $87,980 | $101,380 | $115,300 | $106,710 | 40 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $79,130 | $102,960 | $131,000 | $108,210 | 40 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 311800 | $82,100 | $96,210 | $122,020 | $102,780 | 40 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 311900 | $101,030 | $108,730 | $123,830 | $114,470 | 50 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 312100 | $87,830 | $104,860 | $122,670 | $107,160 | 30 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $104,190 | $127,620 | $137,760 | $123,980 | 290 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $100,000 | $114,830 | $129,520 | $116,560 | 160 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $117,140 | $137,540 | $165,390 | $143,140 | 410 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $102,850 | $129,990 | $154,320 | $128,650 | 830 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $83,610 | $103,600 | $118,940 | $104,520 | 60 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $95,920 | $111,480 | $143,660 | $121,930 | 200 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $88,120 | $109,520 | $128,700 | $110,520 | 300 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $95,050 | $100,120 | $122,060 | $112,640 | 200 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 331100 | $78,930 | $104,370 | $135,820 | $111,110 | 180 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $78,320 | $103,310 | $125,640 | $100,270 | 100 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $106,670 | $120,840 | $134,500 | $122,710 | 240 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $84,950 | $104,310 | $124,620 | $104,220 | 210 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $99,920 | $111,140 | $128,470 | $110,150 | 70 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $90,800 | $105,350 | $128,890 | $112,340 | 690 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $79,150 | $96,930 | $109,750 | $98,720 | 270 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $80,590 | $98,070 | $122,800 | $101,670 | 240 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $98,700 | $116,530 | $129,710 | $118,210 | 90 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $83,140 | $100,820 | $126,980 | $107,970 | 6050 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $85,020 | $102,160 | $127,180 | $108,900 | 840 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $80,250 | $99,540 | $124,850 | $103,470 | 690 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $106,130 | $129,370 | $139,020 | $127,720 | 440 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | $78,360 | $133,080 | $177,610 | $135,630 | 1230 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334200 | $99,150 | $128,580 | $163,650 | $132,260 | 1720 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 334300 | $95,740 | $127,050 | $163,320 | $136,310 | 430 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $99,960 | $131,920 | $173,450 | $141,470 | 7650 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $96,930 | $121,610 | $162,200 | $127,390 | 9380 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 335100 | $81,690 | $101,230 | $125,170 | $105,880 | 860 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | 335200 | $91,210 | $108,760 | $124,950 | $126,850 | 190 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $77,150 | $96,410 | $123,860 | $100,980 | 5450 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $82,640 | $102,550 | $129,630 | $111,250 | 2860 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $102,170 | $133,020 | $173,730 | $142,530 | 440 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $43,440 | $84,540 | $107,620 | $82,860 | 230 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $90,010 | $105,390 | $127,270 | $110,350 | 1640 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $110,900 | $141,160 | $171,950 | $147,720 | 8950 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 336500 | $92,980 | $109,260 | $140,930 | $114,920 | 180 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $98,780 | $117,020 | $158,960 | $126,940 | Not published by BLS |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $75,750 | $85,890 | $100,340 | $96,430 | 60 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $103,600 | $128,460 | $156,370 | $132,780 | 620 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $87,430 | $101,880 | $129,590 | $112,560 | 280 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $105,790 | $111,700 | $141,140 | $120,430 | 200 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil | 486100 | $127,960 | $129,160 | $138,920 | $138,490 | 50 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas | 486200 | $103,630 | $119,490 | $126,120 | $117,210 | 120 |
| Other Pipeline Transportation | 486900 | $121,090 | $134,120 | $160,900 | $140,670 | 40 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $82,650 | $103,500 | $127,550 | $110,770 | 160 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 488200 | $84,600 | $97,470 | $129,410 | $106,120 | 30 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $82,990 | $101,120 | $124,230 | $104,020 | 230 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | 512100 | $95,990 | $117,900 | $151,910 | $118,100 | Not published by BLS |
| Software Publishers | 513200 | $139,990 | $170,340 | $221,130 | $186,800 | 840 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | 516200 | $100,620 | $129,300 | $162,710 | $135,840 | 50 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | 518200 | $95,990 | $124,420 | $168,480 | $132,390 | 370 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | 519200 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS | 830 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | 541200 | $57,730 | $76,470 | $108,360 | $82,620 | Not published by BLS |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $82,830 | $105,470 | $142,210 | $119,710 | 47480 |
| Specialized Design Services | 541400 | $76,580 | $98,560 | $175,940 | $127,650 | 220 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | $98,280 | $132,020 | $185,760 | $143,280 | 8470 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $81,370 | $110,920 | $143,160 | $119,100 | 2330 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $106,720 | $135,190 | $171,760 | $145,120 | 10850 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $88,380 | $99,840 | $127,730 | $107,790 | 770 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 551100 | $102,180 | $130,610 | $161,770 | $134,640 | 10260 |
| Office Administrative Services | 561100 | $111,400 | $155,490 | $166,400 | $139,060 | Not published by BLS |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | $80,350 | $109,350 | $139,670 | $114,480 | 200 |
| Employment Services | 561300 | $92,700 | $129,970 | $167,350 | $139,710 | 3080 |
| Investigation and Security Services | 561600 | $71,720 | $100,690 | $126,420 | $101,310 | 310 |
| Other Support Services | 561900 | $71,730 | $100,180 | $135,190 | $114,030 | 40 |
| Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562200 | $87,460 | $87,460 | $131,740 | $111,730 | 30 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | 562900 | $96,350 | $105,670 | $133,890 | $120,920 | 70 |
What should you check outside the wage figure?
For this technology hire, compare the cash work covered by the occupation before judging an offer. Keep nonproduction bonuses separate. Discuss equity and RSUs separately; no stock value is added to these wages.
OEWS includes commissions and production bonuses, but excludes nonproduction bonuses and employer benefits. It is neither pure base salary nor total compensation.
Remote pay bands are an employer decision. These figures have no remote-work or cost-of-living adjustment. The published metro and state rows describe the BLS area, not a remote candidate's personal pay expectations.
Compare all published metro medians for this occupation · Read the mapping and data method
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2071 Electrical Engineers, the United States. Released 2026-05-15. The source index links to the release workbooks; it is not a link to an individual wage row. Methodology and mapping notes.
These are published government statistical wage estimates, not observed individual offers or a separate technology-title survey. A broader occupation or proxy is not separate pay data for your job title.