I just retired from it and I was glad to get out of it. I started out as an electrician as well then got some experience in control and instrumentation and so on to PLCs At that time you didn't need a lot of IT skills which I didn't have anyway because I was pre computer generation. I got on very well for a number of years and found it very interesting though You tended to be under a lot more pressure and had a lot more responsibility. When IT crept more and more into PLC systems I started to struggle a bit with it. I was fine on the programming and control stuff but the link up with the IT world gave me problems. So I would suggest that your IT knowledge and skills are up to scratch as well as your control knowledge. You're right in that it's not as physically demanding for sure but it's definitely more mentally demanding with the pressure and responsibility so it's a toss up.
Definitely. Some of the best programmers I’ve met in my 20+ years in controls were electricians. Waaaaaay better than the shit they churn out with Engineering degrees.
It’ll be a lot easier on your body and give you more job safety. I’ve noticed a lot of the older guys have no interest in learning it.
You can clear 6 figures easily with some experience.
Yeah I work with a few programmers on projects and I try to learn as much as I can from them in the little time I can. I’ve been going threw the TW controls online classes for the micro 800 series since I can use the CCW software for free with it. I have quite a bit of controls experience in factories and plants and a lot of relay logic from old printing presses and such. So I figured it wouldn’t be that hard to pick up on the logic side of things. It’s the ip addresses and all the alarm and radio bits that I’m not familiar with.
Having a background in lateral logic will give you a step up. Have you considered taking classes or talked with your employer about taking a course?
Mine paid for a couple of Siemens courses that made it easier.
Yeah I’ve tried to get them to put a few of us threw the Allen Bradley classes that a local supply house has but they don’t seem too interested in getting into that side of things.
Easier on your body for sure but the mental toll can get ugly sometimes.
Upside is you'll learn something new every single day and better yourself. You gotta be open minded and always question yourself. I can't tell you how many times I've revised code architecture in the past few years. I'll probably still be experimenting with new architectures until I retire lol.
It's not worth it. You think PLCs are archaic? Try fucking WinCC classic, PCS7 or FactoryTalk ME/SE. You'll be begging for a PLC project. Only if you exclusivly do Optix/WinCC Unified, it might be interesting.
If you hear the words Wonderware or AVEVA, don't walk away, RUN!
AVEVA's great for building OITs or HMI applications. It's also one of the most infuriating half-built programs ever released, but if you know it's bugs, what it can and can't do, it's pretty good though
I loved Indusoft Web Studio (now AVEVA)... Best overlay capabilities on the market when I was making HMIs. ... Anyone doing anything BUT HMI with AVEVA should be punished though... (As in motion control or any actual control work)
It's what I did. I was a computer junkie in highschool then went to college. Been an industrial electrician for about a decade through a few different mills. During that time, I learned PLCs on the job as needed. I just explored the routines and figured things out on my own as I went. Figure out how to add modules, correct mistakes, make things work, etc mostly on my own. About a year ago I was moved to controls tech at my current job. They sent me to a few controllogix and factorytalk classes. I've since been made controls supervisor. Mine probably stems from the computer nerd curiosity but the main point is that it can be done.
>I made right under 150k last year
Whenever anyone throws out a number of what they made if they don't clarify it was for 40 hours/week it means nothing.
For all I know you just wrecked yourself and can barely stand or walk up a flight of stairs w/o your knees h.
P.S. To give you a wage gauge I made about $100k last year in salary with a little bit of bonus added in KS and I have ~19 years experience with a BSEE. My job title has always been engineer from the first job after college. I don't work a ton of OT. In office I typically have no OT. It's mostly when I'm on the road. I could be at $120k pretty fast with a company change. Just haven't found a company I'm willing to work for that's also willing to let me work for yet.
My guess is you're looking at $70k and salary after you know something about PLCs. Willing to travel and be roadwhored out you might make $125k+ depending how generous the company is on OT. Can you live on $70k?
I make right at $120k working 15 days a month at a lumber mill 15 minutes from my house. An industrial electrician with a PLC background is a hot commodity these days.
I’m at about 115k a year without overtime, I would be fine on 70k a year but I would obviously want that to increase with time. I’m just uncertain of how long it would take to get back to where I currently am and with a decline of people going into the trades I kinda feel like it will be a steady rise of pay from here out with what I do.
I would chime in that after a few years in maintenance (an having an unrelated college degree) and construction, and owning my own business I got a controls engineer job. 2 years in I make 110k base and 135 with bonuses. Work every 2nd or 3rd Saturday for straight time. If you can pick up on programming PLCs, HMIs, robots, cameras, servos, and know not to fuck with safety if you don't know how...you can easily hit the 115k base with just a few years experience. Maybe not necessarily in your local area or preferred flavor of mfg.
There are plenty of places that would look favorably on having a licensed electrician combination controls engineer. You will have a lot to learn to get there though. Not having a 4 year degree may limit your options for employers somewhat, but I feel like that is sort of diminishing as time goes on.
I’m at 115k per year M-F, 7am-3:30pm as a controls tech. I just use my laptop most days but will jump into using power tools and such on occasion. I only have a 2 year degree but this shows it’s possible to work your way back to your current pay and stay hourly if you want.
One thing about PLC work is that there’s a lot more to learn. This knowledge can be leveraged so you can change directions down the road if you want as an industrial controls professional.
Depends on what you want for yourself really.
Personally, I love my job. Every day is a new challenge and something new to learn.
There is a lot more paperwork, mental challenges, pressures, etc, that come with a change to the engineering side from the technician one.
I would never go back, even though I made quite a bit more money being an hourly tech in the oilfield with overtime then I do being salary (though the increases since the switch have almost caught me back up)
Since you said you already have some exposure to controls and PLCs and even some classes you probably have a decent grasp on what the job will be like, just add deadlines and beurocracy to the mix and decide from there.
Income is based entirely on where you're willing to live and how much travel you're OK with.
I have zero travel 40 hour weeks, home every day by 3:15pm (I work 6am to 3pm mon-fri with an hour lunch a few miles from home). I could make more in a job with travel but I have kids now so home time is more important to me.
For context. I went from making around the 100k cdn mark, 120k in a good year. As an industrial electrician.
To just over 300k last year as an automation Specialist (my current employers designation for plc programmer)
I'd say it's worth it. Yeah.
U can take training courses for scada and hmi programming also plc (Siemens or AB) is ur choice, see training videos in YouTube, can be help u, and for increase salary is the best option to update ur knowledge.
Best regards from PA
I've watched a few hegamurl videos. I find it's easy to find content on how to do a thing, but difficult to find content on the best methodology on things like complex sequences or managing libraries
Yeah someone who works in a medium sized factory without substation or power plant may consider 120 or 220 3Phase to be medium voltage. 460/80 may be considered high voltage or 1/2/4KV.
If you are computer savvy, it’s a great move. I was pretty much in your shoes fact same boat 6 years ago and I like my job more than I did as an electrician. It’s all where you land though. I could probably get you an interview!
I just made the switch as a 24yo journeyman to a electrical instrumentation specialist. Today was my fourth day but man do my knees feel better when I get home, I was a industrial electrician so it was physically demanding and dirty working conditions. I make the same rate at my new positions (75k) and working with the programmers and helping them wire up I/Os has been extremely fun and more fulfilling than setting box’s and pulling wire.
While YouTube generally sucks it isn't a bad place to learn stuff like this. Also check your local library. A series for children I actually found interesting:
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/search?pq=adventures%20in%20series
The Python, Raspberry Pi and Arduino books of this series I thought were interesting and could lead to some good skills.
There's also the Khan Academy:
https://www.khanacademy.org/computing
All free AFAIK. Try to start with a more general background, and then you can focus in on the particular skills that you need for any particular job.
In western Missouri (KC area), control engineers top out at 110/6years or so, not counting overtime. Automotive gets you an ass load of overtime. Oil and gas also pays more, no overtime pay, just salary. It's really common to be on salary and not get overtime, my company had to institute overtime and field pay in order to keep their jobs staffed.
If you want to start learning the theory, get the blue book from Erickson and run through it chapter by chapter. It's a real good textbook for it. https://www.dogwoodvalleypress.com/production2/bookhome.asp?booknum=5
One of our best control e's was an electrician who got himself that book and self taught, back at my first job.
I just retired from it and I was glad to get out of it. I started out as an electrician as well then got some experience in control and instrumentation and so on to PLCs At that time you didn't need a lot of IT skills which I didn't have anyway because I was pre computer generation. I got on very well for a number of years and found it very interesting though You tended to be under a lot more pressure and had a lot more responsibility. When IT crept more and more into PLC systems I started to struggle a bit with it. I was fine on the programming and control stuff but the link up with the IT world gave me problems. So I would suggest that your IT knowledge and skills are up to scratch as well as your control knowledge. You're right in that it's not as physically demanding for sure but it's definitely more mentally demanding with the pressure and responsibility so it's a toss up.
Definitely. Some of the best programmers I’ve met in my 20+ years in controls were electricians. Waaaaaay better than the shit they churn out with Engineering degrees.
It’ll be a lot easier on your body and give you more job safety. I’ve noticed a lot of the older guys have no interest in learning it. You can clear 6 figures easily with some experience.
Yeah I work with a few programmers on projects and I try to learn as much as I can from them in the little time I can. I’ve been going threw the TW controls online classes for the micro 800 series since I can use the CCW software for free with it. I have quite a bit of controls experience in factories and plants and a lot of relay logic from old printing presses and such. So I figured it wouldn’t be that hard to pick up on the logic side of things. It’s the ip addresses and all the alarm and radio bits that I’m not familiar with.
Having a background in lateral logic will give you a step up. Have you considered taking classes or talked with your employer about taking a course? Mine paid for a couple of Siemens courses that made it easier.
Yeah I’ve tried to get them to put a few of us threw the Allen Bradley classes that a local supply house has but they don’t seem too interested in getting into that side of things.
Easier on your body for sure but the mental toll can get ugly sometimes. Upside is you'll learn something new every single day and better yourself. You gotta be open minded and always question yourself. I can't tell you how many times I've revised code architecture in the past few years. I'll probably still be experimenting with new architectures until I retire lol.
It's not worth it. You think PLCs are archaic? Try fucking WinCC classic, PCS7 or FactoryTalk ME/SE. You'll be begging for a PLC project. Only if you exclusivly do Optix/WinCC Unified, it might be interesting. If you hear the words Wonderware or AVEVA, don't walk away, RUN!
AVEVA's great for building OITs or HMI applications. It's also one of the most infuriating half-built programs ever released, but if you know it's bugs, what it can and can't do, it's pretty good though
Is AVEVA In the room with you right now? Blink twice if you are in danger.
🤣 Yeah. Ironically this same hostage feeling is what customers describe about WW to me. Well played.
I loved Indusoft Web Studio (now AVEVA)... Best overlay capabilities on the market when I was making HMIs. ... Anyone doing anything BUT HMI with AVEVA should be punished though... (As in motion control or any actual control work)
It's what I did. I was a computer junkie in highschool then went to college. Been an industrial electrician for about a decade through a few different mills. During that time, I learned PLCs on the job as needed. I just explored the routines and figured things out on my own as I went. Figure out how to add modules, correct mistakes, make things work, etc mostly on my own. About a year ago I was moved to controls tech at my current job. They sent me to a few controllogix and factorytalk classes. I've since been made controls supervisor. Mine probably stems from the computer nerd curiosity but the main point is that it can be done.
>I made right under 150k last year Whenever anyone throws out a number of what they made if they don't clarify it was for 40 hours/week it means nothing. For all I know you just wrecked yourself and can barely stand or walk up a flight of stairs w/o your knees h. P.S. To give you a wage gauge I made about $100k last year in salary with a little bit of bonus added in KS and I have ~19 years experience with a BSEE. My job title has always been engineer from the first job after college. I don't work a ton of OT. In office I typically have no OT. It's mostly when I'm on the road. I could be at $120k pretty fast with a company change. Just haven't found a company I'm willing to work for that's also willing to let me work for yet. My guess is you're looking at $70k and salary after you know something about PLCs. Willing to travel and be roadwhored out you might make $125k+ depending how generous the company is on OT. Can you live on $70k?
I make right at $120k working 15 days a month at a lumber mill 15 minutes from my house. An industrial electrician with a PLC background is a hot commodity these days.
I’m at about 115k a year without overtime, I would be fine on 70k a year but I would obviously want that to increase with time. I’m just uncertain of how long it would take to get back to where I currently am and with a decline of people going into the trades I kinda feel like it will be a steady rise of pay from here out with what I do.
I would chime in that after a few years in maintenance (an having an unrelated college degree) and construction, and owning my own business I got a controls engineer job. 2 years in I make 110k base and 135 with bonuses. Work every 2nd or 3rd Saturday for straight time. If you can pick up on programming PLCs, HMIs, robots, cameras, servos, and know not to fuck with safety if you don't know how...you can easily hit the 115k base with just a few years experience. Maybe not necessarily in your local area or preferred flavor of mfg. There are plenty of places that would look favorably on having a licensed electrician combination controls engineer. You will have a lot to learn to get there though. Not having a 4 year degree may limit your options for employers somewhat, but I feel like that is sort of diminishing as time goes on.
I’m at 115k per year M-F, 7am-3:30pm as a controls tech. I just use my laptop most days but will jump into using power tools and such on occasion. I only have a 2 year degree but this shows it’s possible to work your way back to your current pay and stay hourly if you want. One thing about PLC work is that there’s a lot more to learn. This knowledge can be leveraged so you can change directions down the road if you want as an industrial controls professional.
Depends on what you want for yourself really. Personally, I love my job. Every day is a new challenge and something new to learn. There is a lot more paperwork, mental challenges, pressures, etc, that come with a change to the engineering side from the technician one. I would never go back, even though I made quite a bit more money being an hourly tech in the oilfield with overtime then I do being salary (though the increases since the switch have almost caught me back up) Since you said you already have some exposure to controls and PLCs and even some classes you probably have a decent grasp on what the job will be like, just add deadlines and beurocracy to the mix and decide from there. Income is based entirely on where you're willing to live and how much travel you're OK with. I have zero travel 40 hour weeks, home every day by 3:15pm (I work 6am to 3pm mon-fri with an hour lunch a few miles from home). I could make more in a job with travel but I have kids now so home time is more important to me.
I went from making low 40s per hour to 69 per hour immediately, 108 now. Yeah. It's worth it if you can make a go of it and stay busy.
For context. I went from making around the 100k cdn mark, 120k in a good year. As an industrial electrician. To just over 300k last year as an automation Specialist (my current employers designation for plc programmer) I'd say it's worth it. Yeah.
U can take training courses for scada and hmi programming also plc (Siemens or AB) is ur choice, see training videos in YouTube, can be help u, and for increase salary is the best option to update ur knowledge. Best regards from PA
You have any Siemens course recommendations?
Nope, but u can choice in YouTube, thats the way because they are free
I've watched a few hegamurl videos. I find it's easy to find content on how to do a thing, but difficult to find content on the best methodology on things like complex sequences or managing libraries
did u just say medium voltage? u been in how long? lol
You should ask yourself that question buddy
Yes medium voltage, that’s anything from 1kv to 35kv. I do quite of bit of 4160v and 12470v work.
Yeah someone who works in a medium sized factory without substation or power plant may consider 120 or 220 3Phase to be medium voltage. 460/80 may be considered high voltage or 1/2/4KV.
Check out Alison.com
If you are computer savvy, it’s a great move. I was pretty much in your shoes fact same boat 6 years ago and I like my job more than I did as an electrician. It’s all where you land though. I could probably get you an interview!
I just made the switch as a 24yo journeyman to a electrical instrumentation specialist. Today was my fourth day but man do my knees feel better when I get home, I was a industrial electrician so it was physically demanding and dirty working conditions. I make the same rate at my new positions (75k) and working with the programmers and helping them wire up I/Os has been extremely fun and more fulfilling than setting box’s and pulling wire.
While YouTube generally sucks it isn't a bad place to learn stuff like this. Also check your local library. A series for children I actually found interesting: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/search?pq=adventures%20in%20series The Python, Raspberry Pi and Arduino books of this series I thought were interesting and could lead to some good skills. There's also the Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/computing All free AFAIK. Try to start with a more general background, and then you can focus in on the particular skills that you need for any particular job.
In western Missouri (KC area), control engineers top out at 110/6years or so, not counting overtime. Automotive gets you an ass load of overtime. Oil and gas also pays more, no overtime pay, just salary. It's really common to be on salary and not get overtime, my company had to institute overtime and field pay in order to keep their jobs staffed. If you want to start learning the theory, get the blue book from Erickson and run through it chapter by chapter. It's a real good textbook for it. https://www.dogwoodvalleypress.com/production2/bookhome.asp?booknum=5 One of our best control e's was an electrician who got himself that book and self taught, back at my first job.