What is the salary and career path for a scada technician?
SCADA technician is a broad match to Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (SOC 49-2095), the BLS code covering utility control and telemetry work; the OEWS May 2025 median is $103,020 a year ($49.53 an hour), from $65,730 at the 10th percentile to $129,920 at the 90th. BLS projects 5.5% employment growth for the code over 2024–2034 — faster than average, from a small base of about 2,000 openings a year. It is reached through a technical program or utility apprenticeship plus controls and networking experience, not a four-year degree.
- SCADA Technicians earn a national median $103,020/yr ($49.53/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-2095); the top 10% clear $129,920.
- Entry is through a two-year controls/electronics program or utility SCADA apprenticeship plus networking and protocol experience, not a degree.
- BLS projects 5.5% growth for Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Repairers (SOC 49-2095) through 2034 — faster than average but from a small base of about 2,000 openings a year.
- Pay climbs from a controls apprentice near $65,730 to a SCADA supervisor at the $129,920 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a scada technician?
Controls / instrumentation apprentice
Wiring RTUs and terminating field points under a senior technician; entry pay sits near the 10th percentile of $65,730.
SCADA technician
Commissioning RTUs, points and telemetry to the control-center HMI around the $103,020 median for the code.
Senior SCADA / automation technician
Leading SCADA migrations, protocol conversions and CIP compliance pays toward the 75th percentile of $118,870.
SCADA / automation supervisor
Running a SCADA program or control-systems group reaches the 90th percentile of $129,920.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays scada technicians the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-2095. National median: $103,020. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does scada technician pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles scada technicians most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: scada technicians rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +5.5% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly scada technicians clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-2095 (scada technicians) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do scada technicians need?
A two-year controls program or utility SCADA apprenticeship that certifies RTU and telemetry competency. See all state licences →
Training and access qualification for NERC CIP-governed control-system work.
Qualified-worker status for electric-power work when installing SCADA in energized substations.
SEL, GE, Schneider or ABB RTU and SCADA platform training for specific systems.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do scada technicians use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 49-2095
Salary Levers
How do scada technicians earn above the $103,020 BLS median?
Protocol and networking depth
DNP3-over-IP migration and networking skill move pay from the $65,730 entry band toward the upper percentiles.
NERC CIP cybersecurity
CIP compliance and control-system security expertise command premiums above the $103,020 median.
Automation program leadership
Leading SCADA and distribution-automation programs pushes earnings toward the $129,920 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a scada technician worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-2095. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
SCADA Technician Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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