Design automated control systems for manufacturing, industrial, and process equipment. Median salary in Bethesda: $172K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Bethesda, Maryland. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Controls Engineers in Bethesda earn approximately 65% higher than the US national median for this role — a $68,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Bethesda's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Bethesda ($2,800/mo) consumes approximately 30% of an after-tax median Controls Engineer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($221K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $172K by 2030.
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The median Controls Engineer salary in Bethesda, MD is $172,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Bethesda–MD metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Controls Engineers in Bethesda with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $129,000 and $172,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $172,000 to $221,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $221,000 to $277,000 or more.
Bethesda has a cost of living index of 165 compared to the US national average of 100. Bethesda's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Maryland has a 5.75% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in EE or ME. 25% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.