When starting a career in industrial automation, one of the first decisions you face is which PLC platform to learn. The market is dominated by two manufacturers: Siemens and Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley). Both are excellent choices, but they serve different markets and have distinct philosophies.
Market Presence
Siemens dominates the European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets. If you plan to work in the UK, Germany, or anywhere in Europe, Siemens expertise is essential. Their S7-1200 and S7-1500 series, programmed via TIA Portal, are the standard in European manufacturing.
Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) leads in North America. The ControlLogix and CompactLogix platforms, programmed with Studio 5000, are the backbone of American and Canadian manufacturing. They also have a strong presence in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries globally.
Programming Software
Siemens TIA Portal (Totally Integrated Automation):
- Unified engineering environment for PLC, HMI, drives, and networking
- Supports all five IEC 61131-3 languages
- Strong simulation capabilities with PLCSIM
- Modern interface with project-wide consistency
- Safety Integrated for SIL-rated applications
Rockwell Studio 5000 (Logix Designer):
- Dedicated PLC programming environment
- Tag-based architecture (no fixed memory addresses)
- Add-On Instructions for code reuse
- Strong integration with FactoryTalk suite
- Extensive library of industry-specific solutions
Hardware Comparison
Siemens offers a broader range from micro PLCs (LOGO!) to large-scale systems (S7-1500). Their distributed I/O via PROFINET and ET 200 series is widely used.
Allen-Bradley focuses on scalability within the Logix family. The common programming environment across CompactLogix and ControlLogix means your code is portable across different hardware sizes.
Which Should You Learn?
Learn Siemens if:
- You plan to work in the UK or Europe
- You want a unified automation platform
- Process industries interest you
- You want broader global coverage
Learn Allen-Bradley if:
- You plan to work in North America
- Automotive or pharmaceutical industries interest you
- You prefer tag-based programming
- You want strong integration with Rockwell ecosystem
The best answer? Learn both. Most senior automation engineers are proficient in both platforms, and the fundamental concepts transfer between them. At EDWartens, we train engineers on both Siemens and Allen-Bradley hardware, giving our graduates a competitive edge in the global job market.
Salary Comparison in the UK
Both skill sets command strong salaries:
- Siemens PLC Engineer: GBP 38,000 to GBP 65,000
- Allen-Bradley PLC Engineer: GBP 40,000 to GBP 70,000
- Multi-platform Engineer: GBP 50,000 to GBP 85,000
The premium for engineers who know both platforms is significant, making it worthwhile to invest in learning both.