Salary AI Book a Demo

Controls Project Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Controls Project Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Controls Project Engineer in the United States is $153,371 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $74.

However, a Controls Project Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $188,464
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $140,018 to $171,740
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $127,861
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Controls Project Engineer Salaries

A Controls Project Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Controls Project Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Controls Project Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $131,778
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $155,281
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,117
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $152,020
  • Expert (over 8 years): $178,329
Levels Salary
Cost Engi... Level Controls Project Engineer$131,778
Cost Engi... Level Controls Project Engineer$155,281
Project C... Level Controls Project Engineer$116,117
Controls ... Level Controls Project Engineer$152,020
Project C... Level Controls Project Engineer$178,329
View as Graph

How Do Controls Project Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Controls Project Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $169,812.
  • California: $169,168.
  • Massachusetts: $166,914.

Top Paying Cities for Controls Project Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $193,447
  • San Francisco: $191,329
  • Oakland: $187,297

What Skills Can Increase a Controls Project Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 8.25% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.83% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 8.25%
Accounting 1.83%
Microsoft Office 1.06%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Controls Project Engineer's salary.

  • Budget Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Project Delivery: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Microsoft Project: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budget Management $164,107
7%
Project Delivery $159,506
4%
Microsoft Project $159,506
4%
Get Latest Data

Controls Project Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Controls Project Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 54% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Controls Project Engineer positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Controls Project Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Controls Project Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$191,714$92.025%
Software & Networking$191,714$92.025%
Pharmaceuticals$184,045$88.020%
Biotechnology$180,978$87.018%
Aerospace & Defense$171,776$83.012%

Controls Project Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Controls Project Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$140,018
Average $153,371/year
$171,740
$11,668
Average $12,781/month
$14,312
$2,693
Average $2,949/week
$3,303
$67
Average $74/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $171,740 $14,312 $3,303 $83
Average $153,371 $12,781 $2,949 $74
25th Percentile $140,018 $11,668 $2,693 $67

Most common benefits for Controls Project Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Controls Project Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Controls Project Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Controls Project Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Controls Project Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Controls Project Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Controls Project Engineer?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Controls Project Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst