When you learn industrial automation, the very first thing that is being taught to you is PLC programming. PLC is the nerve of automation and you have to be well-versed in it, as it is the very first basic step.
So, programmers nerving to build a career in industrial automation must learn PLC programming properly. If they become well-set in PLC programming, then they can learn advanced levels of industrial automation more easily.
PLC Programmer
Often, PLC programmers face an issue as to what to do in a further career once they have learned PLC programming. There are many streams and lines, but what salary they will get, how will they advance further; it’s a column dilemma.
In this post, we will learn about the PLC programmer’s salary and their future scope on how they can advance further.
PLC Programmer Career Scope
Let us start from the beginning. If we categorize their work area, a PLC programmer can work in four types of companies – system integrators, machine manufacturers, end customers, or PLC manufacturers.
System Integrator
In a system integrator company, the programmer can get to learn all the PLC models of their particular integrator and become hands-on in their work.
This means suppose company X is a system integrator of Schneider Electric; then all the PLC products of Schneider Electric can be learned by him easily.
Machine Manufacturer
In a machine manufacturer or end customer company, he will get to work only on a fixed type of machine.
In a PLC manufacturing company, he will get to learn in deep the PLC they are manufacturing. So, each and every type has its own merits and demerits.
Generally, in terms of salary, income is lower for a programmer in a system integrator company, medium for an end customer or machine manufacturer, and higher for a PLC manufacturer company.
PLC Manufacturing Company
But usually, it is difficult for freshers to get a place in a PLC manufacturer company, because they generally hire experienced people instead of newcomers. So, PLC programmers usually tend to work in other types of companies first and then try to crack interviews with PLC manufacturers.
In terms of technicality, PLC programmers get to learn the most in a PLC manufacturer company. This is because each and every aspect of software can be exposed to him and he will get to learn more deeply. So, this is the general flow mostly followed by many PLC programmers to build their careers.
Now, let us look at some other areas of the field in which a PLC programmer can work if he is not getting any career hopes in the mentioned fields. When he is working for PLC programs, they also get to work on HMI or SCADA. So, after gaining certain years of experience, they can also work to apply for SCADA programming jobs.
SCADA is not just limited to screen designing. It would be helpful if they become in software scripts like C++, Java, Visual Basic, Python, .Net, MSSQL, MS Azure, etc. Also, if he gets to learn software modeling like UML or SysML as well as knowing its configuration, building, and test management, then it would be more helpful.
One of the most used tools in SCADA is the OPC UA/DA server client. It manages third-party communication with almost any type of device. So, learning OPC is also an added advantage. With all these proficiency, the PLC programmer apart from PLC languages and coding can also establish his career in SCADA programming. Then, he can work in reputed SCADA companies for building his career further.
Let us look at some other aspects apart from PLC and SCADA programming. The majority of projects nowadays touch ERP’s automation by consumption of APIs, databases, graphical user interfaces, and web browsers. The person in this role should know cloud-based solutions as automation built in the team are deployed and hosted there.
IoT, machine learning, AI, ERP, and MES are the next-level tools of industrial automation. It works on a very high level and the programmer, if well-versed in it, can be said to be a complete automation expert. Because he has worked in all levels of industrial automation.
Mostly, companies working on these tools hire proficient SCADA programmers, because they know there are very select companies working on these, and not everyone gets a chance to work on it. So, if he is apt in SCADA programming and IT, then he will easily grasp IoT coding. This level of automation has the highest pay package to date. Individuals can also learn separately through courses offering it. That will be an added advantage for them.
In this way, we learned the PLC programmer’s salary scope and the future aspects of where they can work.
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