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$55K

$96.6K

$131K

How much do protection and controls engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for protection and controls engineer in the United States is $96,574.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,500.00 and $108,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Protection and Controls Engineers typically do not earn $500,000 annually; such high salaries are more common in executive or specialized roles within the energy or utility sectors. Senior engineers with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities may approach high six-figure incomes, but reaching $500,000 is rare for this position alone.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Protection and Controls Engineers in specialized industries such as power generation, oil and gas, or large-scale manufacturing can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. High salaries often reflect expertise in system design, automation, and safety standards, along with the ability to manage complex projects.

What are Protection and Controls Engineers?

Protection and Controls Engineers are specialized electrical engineers who design, implement, and maintain systems that protect electrical power grids and equipment from faults and failures. They ensure the reliable operation of substations and transmission networks by developing control schemes and selecting protective relays and devices. Their work helps prevent equipment damage, power outages, and safety hazards by quickly detecting and isolating electrical faults. These engineers collaborate with utility companies, work with advanced protective technologies, and play a critical role in maintaining grid stability and safety.

What does a protection and controls engineer do?

A protection and controls engineer designs, implements, and maintains systems that safeguard electrical equipment and power systems from faults and overloads. They analyze system performance, develop protective relay settings, and use control systems and software to ensure reliable operation, often working with standards like IEEE and using tools such as SCADA and relay testing equipment.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Protection and Controls Engineers in specialized industries such as power generation, oil and gas, or large-scale infrastructure can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. High salaries are often associated with senior positions, project management, or working in high-demand environments requiring expertise in electrical systems, control systems, and industry standards.

How does a Protection and Controls Engineer typically collaborate with other teams during substation projects?

Protection and Controls Engineers frequently work in close partnership with design, commissioning, and operations teams during substation projects. They are responsible for coordinating relay settings, reviewing control schematics, and ensuring that protection systems align with overall project requirements. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as these engineers must integrate feedback from field technicians and project managers to address technical challenges and maintain system reliability. This collaborative environment helps ensure that all protection and control systems function safely and efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Protection and Controls Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Protection and Controls Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, particularly in power systems, supported by a relevant degree and often a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as SEL AcSELerator, ETAP, and SCADA systems, along with knowledge of NERC and IEEE standards, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with teams and ensuring system reliability. These skills and qualifications are crucial to designing, maintaining, and troubleshooting protective relays and control systems that ensure the safe and reliable operation of electrical grids.
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Protection And Controls Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protection And Controls Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $96,574 per year, or $46.4 per hour.

Protection & Controls Engineer

K&A Engineering Consulting

Rochester, NY • On-site

$105K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

K&A Power Group- is a privately held company, providing comprehensive consulting, engineering and design, program/project management, construction management, and support services to power utility and industrial clients. Specializing in substation, transmission, distribution, distributed energy resources, and EPC services, we excel in solving complex challenges with precision-driven solutions. We pride ourselves on employing top talent, fostering a culture of excellence, and building meaningful relationships with clients and employees.
Powered By Innovation, Passion, And Purpose.
Start your K&A Career:
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Protection & Controls Engineer to join our team at K&A Engineering in Rochester, New York. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects that make a real impact in the energy and utility sectors. You'll be part of a dynamic, people-focused team where your expertise, ideas, and contributions will be valued and celebrated.
Role Expectations:
  • Perform detailed review of all existing protection schemes present in the subject area to incorporate into new design. Special areas of focus are anti-islanding schemes, generator intertie settings, SPS schemes, etc. (anything outside of normal). Basically, the goal is to ensure that we don't remove required protections already in place or at least be aware of how things work today before we modify existing schemes.
  • Lead overall protection design for all capital projects and define relay protection functionality/scheme in accordance with Avangrid TM standards
  • Review contractor provided relay settings, logic diagrams (including Goose messaging diagrams), and operational descriptions for all capital projects
  • Review/perform area relay coordination and determine what level of area coordination is required/needed (based on changes in fault duty and overall system performance due to the project changes)
  • Review contractor provided relay settings for all temporary builds and construction sequence steps including mobile settings
  • Review/provide input to Customer's Aspen model changes as required for individual capital projects
  • Provide design support during implementation/testing and commissioning of the above the items
  • Provide feedback to Customer on existing TM standards and help refine the Customer's design practices
  • Ensure all as-built documentation gets filed appropriately in the plant filing location at Customer
  • Lead overall automation and integration design for all capital projects
  • Review/design SCADA point indexes
  • Review contractor provided HMI screens/settings for all capital projects
  • Review/design Protection settings and settings basis
  • Review/design IED Data Maps
  • Review/create substation level operational descriptions (HMI operation, relay front panel operation, etc.)
  • Review automated maintenance data gathering (Digital Substation Data) point lists
  • Track all required licenses/firewalls and key automation and integration deliverables needed for project implementation
  • Provide design support during implementation/testing and commissioning of the above items
  • Perform constructability review and ensure adequate automation and integration coverage is available for each outage step (SCADA etc.)

What we're looking for:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a strong background and knowledge of all utilities engineering disciplines
  • 7 years or more of relay/protection settings engineering experience
  • Proficient in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
  • Proven experience in Substation Design should include general arrangement, electrical equipment plans, elevation and section views, Equipment cable trays, cable design, conduit fill calcs, rigid bus calcs
  • Professional level skills in MicroStation, AutoCAD
  • PE requested

Pay Range $105,500-$115,000/annually
Why Join K&A?
People-First Culture: We put our people at the center of everything we do, creating an environment where your professional and personal growth is a top priority.
Innovation & Learning:We encourage continuous learning and invest in your development through training, mentorship, and hands-on experience.
Collaborative Team Environment: We believe in the power of collaboration and working together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and employees.
Recognition & Growth: We've earned our reputation through uncompromising precision and a commitment to excellence. As an agile and fast-growing company, we offer plenty of opportunities for your career advancement and growth.
Competitive Compensation & Benefits:We offeracomprehensive benefits package for eligible classified employees, including but not limited to:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care Spending Account
  • 401K (Traditional and Roth with Company Match)
  • Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Holidays and Flexible PTO
  • Tuition Reimbursement, Parking and Transit Reimbursement, and Pet Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability, Short-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
  • EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
  • Relocation Assistance

Check out our career page for more information!
The salary range for this role considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to technical ability, experience and training, licenses and certifications, and other related skillsets. The disclosed range is an estimate and has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

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