Home › Industry Experience › Automation & Controls Engineers
Automation & Controls Engineers recruitingAutomation & Controls Recruiter
We recruit automation and controls engineers with PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics, motion, drives and industrial network expertise. Manufacturing is the only thing we recruit for.
4 open searches for automation & controls engineers right now.
In Wisconsin and Texas. Titles on the board: Automation Engineer, Automation Technician, Automation Controls Technician, Control Engineer.
What we screen automation & controls engineers for.
Common skills, systems and technologies we use when sourcing and evaluating automation & controls engineers. The list is a starting point, not a requirement that one person have everything.
- Allen-Bradley
- Studio 5000
- RSLogix 5000
- Siemens
- TIA Portal
- Mitsubishi
- Omron
- Beckhoff
- HMI Programming
- SCADA
- Fanuc Robotics
- ABB Robotics
- KUKA
- Yaskawa / Motoman
- Universal Robots
- Robot Programming
- Vision Systems
- Safety Systems
- VFDs
- Servo Systems
- Motion Control
- Rockwell Kinetix
- Siemens Drives
- Variable Speed Drives
- PID Control
- EtherNet/IP
- Profinet
- Modbus
- DeviceNet
- OPC UA
- Industrial Ethernet
- Machine Integration
- Commissioning
- Controls Troubleshooting
Hiring automation & controls engineers, start to offer.
- 01 · Understand
Define the real job
We learn the role, environment, compensation, must-haves and the reasons a strong person would make a move. For automation & controls engineers, that means the plc & hmi, robotics and motion & drives behind the title.
- 02 · Search
Build the market
We search databases, networks and direct-source talent instead of relying only on active applicants, and we search by the work: Allen-Bradley, Studio 5000, RSLogix 5000, not just a job title.
- 03 · Screen
Have the conversation
We evaluate experience, motivation, fit, location and the practical reasons the move does, or does not, make sense.
- 04 · Close
Stay involved
Interview coordination, feedback, offer communication and follow-through until both sides know where things stand.
Every candidate we present comes with an accurate, uninflated pay number, how we screened them, and what stands between them and a yes. Our hiring guide walks through it.
What automation & controls engineers earn, by state.
The closest federal wage groups, nationally and in every state where we have open searches. Electrical Engineers first.
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 198,750 | $93,000 | $121,000 | $153,000 |
| North Carolina | 7,090 | $79,000 | $110,000 | $148,000 |
| Wisconsin | 3,550 | $82,000 | $100,000 | $123,000 |
| Texas | 20,870 | $95,000 | $129,000 | $165,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,970 | $91,000 | $111,000 | $136,000 |
| Minnesota | 3,150 | $94,000 | $110,000 | $138,000 |
| California | 24,230 | $106,000 | $144,000 | $186,000 |
| Washington | 7,610 | $104,000 | $133,000 | $166,000 |
| Illinois | 5,460 | $87,000 | $108,000 | $132,000 |
| Ohio | 6,360 | $82,000 | $101,000 | $127,000 |
| Arizona | Not published | $82,000 | $101,000 | $134,000 |
| Oregon | Not published | $100,000 | $125,000 | $141,000 |
| Michigan | 10,840 | $87,000 | $106,000 | $132,000 |
| Montana | 790 | $76,000 | $87,000 | $113,000 |
Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071), a year. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Yearly figures are the hourly figures times 2,080 hours, as BLS reports them.
The full electrical engineer salary guide →
Industrial Engineers
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 365,740 | $84,000 | $102,000 | $129,000 |
| North Carolina | 11,580 | $81,000 | $99,000 | $121,000 |
| Wisconsin | 13,070 | $79,000 | $97,000 | $111,000 |
| Texas | 30,980 | $86,000 | $105,000 | $133,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,180 | $81,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
| Minnesota | 17,580 | $85,000 | $103,000 | $130,000 |
| California | 32,680 | $98,000 | $125,000 | $154,000 |
| Washington | 6,130 | $102,000 | $129,000 | $156,000 |
| Illinois | 18,640 | $82,000 | $101,000 | $125,000 |
| Ohio | 23,480 | $81,000 | $100,000 | $124,000 |
| Georgia | Not published | $82,000 | $100,000 | $124,000 |
| Arizona | Not published | $89,000 | $108,000 | $135,000 |
| Oregon | Not published | $101,000 | $128,000 | $166,000 |
| Michigan | 30,990 | $83,000 | $102,000 | $127,000 |
| Montana | 390 | $84,000 | $104,000 | $139,000 |
Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112), a year. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Yearly figures are the hourly figures times 2,080 hours, as BLS reports them.
Pick the agreement that fits the opening.
| Agreement | Fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency | 25%, 30% or 33% | Success-based search with no upfront fee. The rate follows the guarantee: 60, 120 or 180 days. |
| Priority | By agreement | A higher-commitment search for urgent, difficult or high-impact openings. |
| Retained | 20%, 25% or 28% | A committed, exclusive search, 50% paid up front, five points under contingency. |
| Retained + Volume | 15% or 20% | More than five active openings, exclusive, with a 90 or 180-day guarantee. |
| RPO | By agreement | Large hiring projects, expansions, recurring hiring or many placements. |
From our published pricing and search agreements. Every public option pays through secure Stripe Instant Pay.
Hiring automation & controls engineers with Compass
How much does it cost to hire automation & controls engineers through Compass?
We publish our fees. Contingency searches are 25% with a 60-day guarantee, 30% with 120 days, or 33% with 180 days, with no upfront search fee. Retained searches are 20 to 28% with half up front. See pricing.
What do automation & controls engineers earn?
The closest federal wage group, electrical engineers, earned a median of $121,000 a year nationally in May 2025, with the middle half between $93,000 and $153,000. Of the states where we have open searches, California pays the most ($144,000) and Montana the least ($87,000). See every state.
Where do you recruit automation & controls engineers?
Across the United States, from our base in Missoula, Montana. We have open searches for automation & controls engineers right now in Wisconsin and Texas.
How do you find automation & controls engineers who are not applying to jobs?
We search databases, networks and direct-source talent instead of relying only on active applicants, and we recruit around the actual equipment, processes and responsibilities behind the title, so strong candidates are not missed because another plant calls the job something different.
What skills do you screen automation & controls engineers for?
It depends on the job, but we organize every search for automation & controls engineers around plc & hmi, robotics, motion & drives and integration & networks: Allen-Bradley, Studio 5000, RSLogix 5000; Fanuc Robotics, ABB Robotics, KUKA; VFDs, Servo Systems, Motion Control; EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus. A starting point, not a requirement that one person have everything.
Need Automation & Controls Engineers?
Tell us what you need. We will tell you how we would attack it.