How to Become a Controls Technician in California (2026)

Q: How much do controls technicians earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), controls technicians in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $86,090 (using the related "Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians" BLS category, since controls technician wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in California is about 1.21 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for controls technicians in California?

California currently employs approximately 13,450 workers in the related "Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door earn a median annual wage of $100,260 ($48.20/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,310 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 34.9% above the national median of $74,340 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $100,260 ($48.20/hr)
25th percentile: $78,860 per year
75th percentile: $130,800 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $137,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $60,360 per year
Workers employed in California: 4,310
Versus national median: 34.9% above the U.S. median of $74,340
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

California employs about 13,450 controls technicians earning a median $86,090 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians”). Most controls technicians train through an approved program before entering the field in California.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California employs approximately 13,450 workers in the related “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” category (SOC 17-3023), with a median annual wage of $86,090 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.21x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 0.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 8,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Controls Technician in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track controls technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3023). Actual controls technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (California): $86,090 per year (based on related “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Controls Technician in California

How to become a Controls Technician in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for controls technicians in California.

How long does it take? controls technician training length in California varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do controls technicians earn in California? The BLS does not track controls technician wages separately. Based on the related “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” category, the median annual wage in California is $86,090, with entry-level wages around $59,590 and experienced workers earning $138,400 or more ¹.

How to Become a Controls Technician in California

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved controls technician program in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to controls technicians in California before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Controls Technician Wages by Metro Area in California

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	4,280	$84,099	$86,832	$49,643	$130,296
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	3,040	$96,342	$96,374	$66,984	$127,405
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	2,470	$94,243	$98,217	$61,233	$137,049
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	2,150	$101,751	$98,888	$62,957	$132,771
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	1,260	$83,523	$89,478	$58,359	$131,468
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	790	$101,237	$92,706	$47,918	$123,941
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	780	$96,149	$97,298	$49,440	$149,593
Bakersfield-Delano	650	$102,060	$105,358	$75,217	$137,060
Stockton-Lodi	180	$105,800	$103,970	$52,120	$133,350
Fresno	170	$111,228	$102,746	$61,419	$134,984
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	170	$88,430	$93,047	$63,345	$122,099
Visalia	110	$84,045	$84,565	$58,602	$115,295
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	90	$95,680	$98,020	$55,380	$131,020
Vallejo	70	$95,950	$101,400	$47,960	$134,940
Salinas	50	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Modesto	40	$133,990	$116,830	$67,380	$133,990
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	30	$76,750	$82,470	$47,460	$124,950

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for controls technicians in California? California employs approximately 13,450 workers in the related “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 0.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.

How much do controls technicians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for controls technicians in California is $86,090 (based on the related “Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians” category), which is $8,910 above the national median of $77,180 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)