← Back
CAREER GUIDE

Become an Automation Technician

Master the technology that drives modern manufacturing and boost your career potential.

Download Free Resume Templates
Understand typical salary ranges across key markets
Identify high‑growth industries and job outlook
Learn the most in‑demand technical and soft skills
Average Salary (US)
$55,000
Annual median salary
Job Outlook
Employment of automation technicians is projected to grow 7% over the next decade, driven by increased adoption of robotics and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
Education Required
Associate degree in mechatronics, industrial automation, or related field; many positions accept vocational certificates combined with hands‑on experience.

Salary Growth Trajectory

Expected earnings progression over your career

010203040$40k$60kYears of Experience
United States
$55,000
Canada
CA$58,000
United Kingdom
ÂŁ38,000
Australia
A$70,000
Germany
€45,000
India
â‚č450,000

Career Progression Paths

Multiple routes to advance your automation technician career

Path 1
1
Entry‑Level Technician
2
Senior Automation Technician
3
Lead Controls Engineer

Essential Skills

Technical and soft skills to highlight on your resume

Must‑Have Skills
PLC programming (Allen‑Bradley, Siemens)Electrical schematics readingTroubleshooting of motion control systemsIndustrial networking (Ethernet/IP, Profinet)Safety standards compliance (OSHA, IEC 61508)HMI/SCADA configurationRobotics programming basicsPreventive maintenance planning
Nice‑to‑Have Skills
Python scripting for data loggingIndustrial IoT platformsMachine learning for predictive maintenanceProject scheduling software (MS Project)Lean Six Sigma fundamentalsAdvanced robotics (ABB, FANUC)Cybersecurity for OT environmentsCloud‑based monitoring tools
Common Job Titles
Automation Technician
Controls Technician
PLC Programmer
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Robotics Technician
Mechatronics Technician
Field Service Engineer
Automation Systems Analyst
Controls Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer

Resume Impact Examples

Transform generic statements into powerful achievements

Production Efficiency
Problem

Manual conveyor start‑stop caused frequent bottlenecks

Solution

Implemented PLC‑controlled sequencing, increasing line throughput by 22%

Problem

Equipment changeovers required extensive re‑wiring

Solution

Standardized modular I/O panels reduced changeover time from 4 hours to 45 minutes

Problem

Operators manually adjusted motor speeds

Solution

Added VFD integration, achieving consistent speed control and 15% energy savings

Problem

Unscheduled stops due to sensor drift

Solution

Calibrated vision sensors and added self‑diagnostics, cutting downtime by 30%

Problem

No real‑time production data

Solution

Deployed SCADA dashboards, enabling instant KPI monitoring and faster decision‑making

Project Examples

Real‑world initiatives that demonstrate impact

Conveyor Automation Upgrade
6 mo
Situation
A mid‑size snack manufacturer experienced frequent line stoppages due to manual start‑stop procedures.
Action
Programmed Allen‑Bradley PLCs to automate sequencing, added HMI for operator control, and installed VFDs for speed regulation.
Result
Line uptime increased by 22%, throughput rose by 18%, and labor hours reduced by 12 per week.
Uptime: 98% → 99.5%Throughput: 1,200 pcs/hr → 1,420 pcs/hrLabor Savings: 12 hrs/week
Predictive Maintenance Dashboard
4 mo
Situation
Frequent unexpected failures on robotic arms caused costly production delays.
Action
Deployed vibration and temperature sensors, collected data via MQTT, and built a Grafana dashboard with anomaly detection algorithms.
Result
Mean time between failures increased from 45 days to 78 days; maintenance costs dropped 20%.
MTBF: 45 days → 78 daysMaintenance Cost Reduction: 20%

Copy‑Ready Resume Bullets

Ready‑to‑use achievement statements organized by category

  • Developed and debugged PLC programs using RSLogix 5000 for high‑speed packaging lines
  • Configured HMI screens in FactoryTalk View to streamline operator interactions
  • Integrated motion control modules for multi‑axis robotic cells
  • Implemented communication protocols (Ethernet/IP, Modbus) between equipment
  • Created reusable function blocks to reduce development time by 15%
Key Certifications
  • Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
  • Rockwell Automation PLC Programming Certification
  • Siemens S7 Programming Certificate
  • ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • OSHA 10‑Hour General Industry Safety
  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Career Transitions
  • Automation Technician → Controls Engineer
  • PLC Programmer → Robotics Integration Specialist
  • Field Service Engineer → Automation Project Manager
  • Maintenance Technician → Reliability Engineer

Ready to Build Your Automation Technician Resume?

Start with our AI‑powered resume builder and land your dream role faster.

Download Free Resume Templates

More Career Guides

Chemical Technician
Provide aspiring and current chemical technicians with actionable guidance to advance their careers, improve resumes, and negotiate better compensation.
Border Patrol Agent
This guide equips aspiring and current Border Patrol Agents with the knowledge, tools, and examples needed to build a standout resume, advance their career, and make a meaningful impact on national security.
Copy Editor
This guide equips aspiring and experienced copy editors with the knowledge, tools, and actionable steps needed to build standout resumes, develop in‑demand skills, and navigate career advancement.
Account Manager
This guide equips aspiring and current Account Managers with the tools, insights, and examples needed to excel in client-facing roles and advance to senior leadership positions.
Customs Officer
This guide equips aspiring and current Customs Officers with the knowledge, tools, and examples needed to advance their careers, craft compelling resumes, and excel in border enforcement roles.
Advertising Manager
This guide equips aspiring and current Advertising Managers with the data, skills, and examples needed to craft standout resumes, plan career growth, and demonstrate impact.
Blacksmith
This guide equips aspiring and experienced blacksmiths with the knowledge, tools, and examples needed to build standout resumes, advance their careers, and showcase their craftsmanship to employers.
Automation Engineer
This guide helps aspiring and current automation engineers understand the career landscape, required skills, and how to craft a standout resume.
Administrative Assistant
Provide a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring and current administrative assistants to advance their careers.
Babysitter
This guide equips aspiring and experienced babysitters with the knowledge, tools, and actionable steps needed to advance their child‑care careers, negotiate better pay, and transition into related roles.

Check out Resumly's Free AI Tools

AI Career Clock
Forecast your career's AI disruption timeline
ATS Resume Checker
Optimize resumes for ATS
Resume Roast
Get an honest roast of your resume
Career Personality Test
Discover strengths, work style and fit
Interview Questions
Tailored questions with answers & follow-ups
LinkedIn Profile Generator
Headline, About, Experience, Skills — ready to paste
Skills Gap Analyzer
Match score, gaps, and focused upskilling plan
Resume Readability Test
Grade level, clarity, ATS checks, and fixes
Buzzword Detector
Find vague, overused and jargon terms with rewrites
Job Search Keywords
Titles, queries, locations, companies tailored to you
Networking Co‑Pilot
Outreach messages, sequences, and tips

Quick Links

Resume Templates

Career Guides

Salary Guides

Pricing

Features

Results

Become a Reseller

Become an Affiliate

AI Career Clock

ATS Resume Checker

Resume Roast

Career Personality Test

Question Bank

LinkedIn Profile Generator

Skills Gap Analyzer

Career Glossary

Resume Readability Test

Buzzword Detector

Job Search Keywords

Networking Co‑Pilot

Resume Roast

How it works

FAQ

Help Center

Legal

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

hello@resumly.ai

Top Blogs

Tell Me About Yourself

Why Should We Hire You?

The Hidden Job Market

How Many Jobs Should I Apply To?

Make Your Resume Stand Out (2025)

Best Side Hustles in 2025

All Articles

Features

AI Resume Builder

AI Cover Letter

Interview Practice

Auto‑Apply

AI Job Search

Application Tracker

AI Job Match

Chrome Extension

All Features

Resume Builder

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

Australia

India

Germany

France

Netherlands

Singapore

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

Philippines

Brazil

Nigeria

All Locations

Career Guides

Product Manager

Project Manager

Business Analyst

UX Designer

Graphic Designer

Teacher

Nurse (Registered Nurse)

Psychologist

Lawyer

Architect

Data Analyst

Social Media Manager

HR Manager

Software Tester / QA Engineer

Marketing Manager

All Career Guides

Salary Guides

Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Cybersecurity Analyst

Machine Learning Engineer

Cloud Engineer

DevOps Engineer

Doctor

Dentist

Pharmacist

Investment Banker

Actuary

Accountant

Financial Analyst

Pilot

Civil Engineer

All Salary Guides

RESUME MISTAKES

Account Manager

Business Analyst

Sales Representative

Marketing Specialist

Software Developer

UX Designer

Graphic Designer

Financial Analyst

Human Resources Specialist

Project Coordinator

Customer Service Representative

Mechanical Engineer

Data Analyst

Product Designer

Content Writer

All Careers

QUESTION BANK

Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Product Manager

Business Development Manager

Account Executive

Recruiter

Project Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

DevOps Engineer

Cybersecurity Analyst

Data Engineer

Cloud Architect

Operations Manager

HR Manager

Teacher

All Careers

CONTACT US

hello@resumly.ai

© 2025 Resumly.AI. All rights reserved.