PLC Salary-Everything you need to know

Here’s a detailed breakdown of PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) programmer salaries in the United States and India — including typical ranges, hourly/annual pay, factors that affect earnings, and comparisons between countries.

🇺🇸 PLC Programmer Salary in the United States

💰 Average Salary

Median / Typical Range (Salary.com): Around $67,830 per year (≈ $33/hr) with most earners between $61,393 and $75,481. Top earners can make up to ~$82,446 annually.
Indeed Aggregated Data: Reports an average of about $89,327 per year, with low-end around $65,754 and high-end up to $121,351.
Company-specific Examples:
- Some employers (e.g., PLCs Plus International) report averages near $120k/yr, with ranges up to $183k/yr.
- Other listings show averages from $87k to ~$88k/yr with wide ranges.

📊 By Experience / Role (U.S.)

Entry / Junior Programmers often earn $60k–$80k/yr early in their careers.
Experienced / Mid-Level: Often in the $80k–$100k+ range.
Senior / Specialized roles, or those at high-pay companies or in costly regions (e.g., California, D.C.), can exceed $110k–$130k+.

🌎 Location Effects

Salaries are generally higher in states with strong industrial automation demand (e.g., Pennsylvania, Texas, California).
Cost of living and local industries (automotive, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals) influence pay significantly.

💡 Additional U.S. Notes

PLC programming roles may be classified under electrical, automation, or controls engineering and sometimes come with overtime, travel allowances, bonuses, and benefits like 401(k) matching and health coverage. Based on community reports (non-statistical), some seasoned technicians even negotiate total compensation & bonuses beyond base salary.

🇮🇳 PLC Programmer Salary in India

💰 Average Salary (National)

Multiple sources indicate:

Salary.com data (2025): Around ₹6,05,556 per year (≈ ₹50,000/month), with a typical range from ₹5.3L to ₹7.2L annually.
Indeed India: Reports a monthly average of ~₹27,385 (~₹3.3L per year).
AmbitionBox estimates: Salary range tends to fall roughly between ₹1.5L to ₹7.0L depending on experience, location, and company.

📉 By Experience (India)

Fresher / Entry Level: Typically ₹1.0L – ₹3.5L/year.
Mid-Level: Around ₹2.0L – ₹5.0L/year.
Experienced / Senior: Salaries can reach ₹5.0L – ₹7.0L+ depending on skills and employer.

📍 In Chennai / Tamil Nadu

Average pay around ₹25,000–₹27,000/month (~₹3.0–₹3.3L/yr) according to job portal data.
Local analytics show city salary bands varying; one private estimate suggested lower annual figures — but these may not reflect all market jobs.

💡 India Salary Influencers

Experience is a major factor — with freshers frequently under ₹3L/yr.
Industry & Location — automation and manufacturing hubs (like Pune, Bengaluru, Noida) tend to offer somewhat better pay.
Skills in demand — knowledge of specific PLC brands (Siemens, Allen-Bradley), SCADA/HMI, panels, and troubleshooting can increase value.

🇺🇸 vs 🇮🇳 — Summary Comparison

Factor United States India (National) Typical Salary Range$65k – $120k+ / yr (₹54L – ₹99L+) ~₹1.5L – ₹7.0L / yrMedian Base ~$80k–$90k+ ~₹3L–₹6.5L Hourly Equivalent ~$30–$60/hr ₹200–₹350/hr (approx) Cost of Living Higher Lower Top Markets Industrial/Automation regions Urban manufacturing centers

✨ Key takeaways:

PLC programmers in the U.S. generally earn significantly more in absolute terms than in India — often by 10× or more when comparing median salaries.
In India, salaries are lower but should be judged relative to local cost of living; entry roles are common and pay increases with experience and specialization.

📈 What Impacts PLC Programmer Salaries?

In Both Countries

Experience — more years = higher pay.
Industry — automotive, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals often pay better.
Skills — proficiency in multiple PLC platforms, SCADA, network troubleshooting, and automation integration raises value.
Certifications & Education — advanced controls/automation certifications often correlate with better pay.
Location — regions with high industrial demand tend to pay more.