2026 Manufacturing Salary Guide

EAS Direct Hire publishes this annual salary guide based on real placement data from hundreds of direct-hire manufacturing searches conducted nationwide. As former maintenance managers and controls engineers ourselves, we understand the nuances of manufacturing compensation that generalist recruiters miss.

Maintenance & Reliability Compensation

Maintenance and reliability professionals remain among the most sought-after talent in manufacturing. The ongoing skilled trades shortage has pushed compensation upward across all experience levels, particularly for candidates with PLC troubleshooting, predictive maintenance, and CMMS experience.

Position	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior / Lead
Maintenance Technician	$55,000 – $68,000	$68,000 – $82,000	$82,000 – $95,000
Electrical Maintenance Technician	$62,000 – $75,000	$75,000 – $90,000	$90,000 – $105,000
Maintenance Supervisor	$75,000 – $88,000	$88,000 – $105,000	$105,000 – $125,000
Maintenance Manager	$95,000 – $115,000	$115,000 – $140,000	$140,000 – $170,000
Reliability Engineer	$85,000 – $100,000	$100,000 – $125,000	$125,000 – $150,000
Maintenance Planner / Scheduler	$65,000 – $78,000	$78,000 – $95,000	$95,000 – $115,000

Controls, Automation & Engineering Compensation

Controls and automation professionals command premium compensation due to the specialized nature of PLC programming, SCADA integration, and industrial robotics. Candidates with multi-platform experience (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi) consistently earn at the top of these ranges.

Position	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior / Lead
PLC Technician	$65,000 – $78,000	$78,000 – $95,000	$95,000 – $115,000
Controls Technician	$62,000 – $75,000	$75,000 – $92,000	$92,000 – $110,000
Controls Engineer	$85,000 – $100,000	$100,000 – $130,000	$130,000 – $160,000
Automation Engineer	$88,000 – $105,000	$105,000 – $135,000	$135,000 – $165,000
Electrical Engineer	$80,000 – $95,000	$95,000 – $120,000	$120,000 – $150,000

Operations & Plant Leadership Compensation

Manufacturing leadership roles carry significant total compensation packages including base salary, annual bonuses (typically 15-30% of base), and relocation assistance. These figures represent base salary only.

Position	Entry Level	Mid-Career	Senior / Executive
Production Supervisor	$65,000 – $78,000	$78,000 – $95,000	$95,000 – $115,000
Operations Manager	$95,000 – $115,000	$115,000 – $140,000	$140,000 – $175,000
Plant Manager	$120,000 – $150,000	$150,000 – $190,000	$190,000 – $250,000+
VP of Manufacturing	$175,000 – $220,000	$220,000 – $280,000	$280,000 – $350,000+
EHS Manager	$85,000 – $100,000	$100,000 – $125,000	$125,000 – $155,000
Quality Manager	$85,000 – $105,000	$105,000 – $130,000	$130,000 – $160,000

Key Compensation Trends for 2026

Based on our nationwide placement data, we are observing several significant trends in manufacturing compensation:

• Maintenance technicians with PLC skills command a 15-25% premium over general maintenance mechanics.
• Relocation packages are increasingly common for maintenance managers and plant managers, with typical packages ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.
• Sign-on bonuses of $5,000 to $15,000 are standard for controls engineers and automation engineers in competitive markets.
• Shift differentials for 2nd and 3rd shift maintenance roles range from 8-15% above base pay.
• Rural manufacturing plants are offering 10-20% above market rate to attract talent to less desirable locations.

About This Data

This salary guide is published by Electrical Automation Services, Inc. (DBA: EAS Direct Hire), a nationwide direct-hire manufacturing recruiting and executive search firm headquartered in the Chicago area. Our compensation data is derived from actual placements and market intelligence gathered through hundreds of manufacturing searches conducted annually across the United States and Canada. For personalized compensation guidance for your specific market and role, contact our team.