Robotics Engineer Salary Guide: How Much Can You Make?

The primary goal of robotics engineering is to design machines that improve the quality of life for humans. Some examples of robotics engineering you may be familiar with include surgical robots, automated software testing, and the rovers NASA uses to explore other planets. Robotics engineers are responsible for designing, planning, testing, and maintaining these machines and their frameworks. You can learn more about robotics engineer salaries and responsibilities in the article below. 

Average robotics engineer salary in the US

The average robotics engineer salary in the US is $85,936 per year. According to Glassdoor, robotics engineers also earn an average additional pay of $14,337. Additional income may include profit sharing, bonuses, or commissions. In total, the average estimated yearly wage for robotics engineers is $100,273 [1]. Factors influencing your salary as a robotics engineer include years of experience, educational background, specialization, and industry. 

Top 5 highest-paying cities for robotics engineers

Remember that factors like the cost of living may influence robotics engineer salaries across the US.

*The salary insights below were sourced from ZipRecruiter in February 2023 [2].

Top 5 companies hiring robotics engineers in 2022

To determine the top companies, we looked at Glassdoor’s list of the top companies hiring for robotics engineering jobs. We further curated it to adequately represent several industries and eliminate companies with low employee ratings. Employee ratings are measured on a scale of one to five stars. They are calculated based on six categories: culture and values, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, senior management, compensation and benefits, and career opportunities. 

Robotics engineer salary insights by level of expertise

Many robotics engineers obtain a degree in engineering, computer science, or mathematics to start their careers. In the US, 65 percent of robotics engineers have a bachelor's degree, 14 percent have an associate degree, and 13 percent have a master's degree [3]. Examples of degrees for aspiring robotics engineers to pursue include a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. 

Employers may also prefer candidates with Professional Certificates in robotics engineering.

Entry-level robotics engineer salary

The average salary in the US for someone with 0-1 year of experience as a robotics engineer is $77,722 per year. Combined with the reported additional pay of $11,012 per year, the average annual compensation rises to $88,734 [1]. 

Entry-level robotics engineer skills and experience

Qualifications for entry-level robotics engineers may include:

• A degree in an engineering-related field or demonstrated technical ability

• Familiarity with robot operating systems (ROS)

• Knowledge of software development and programming principles

Preparing for an entry-level robotics engineering role

If you don’t yet qualify for an entry-level position, try not to feel discouraged. Consider expanding your skill set with an introductory robotics course like the Robotics Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania. It's 100 percent online, self-paced, and you'll earn a certificate for your resume upon completion.

Mid-level robotics engineer salary

The average US salary for someone with 1-3 years of experience as a robotics engineer is $83,080 per year. Combined with the reported additional pay of $12,717 per year, the average annual compensation rises to $95,797 [1]. 

Mid-level robotics engineer skills and experience

Qualifications for mid-level robotics engineers may include:

• Experience working with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software

• Understanding of cost efficiency and product optimization methods

• Proficient in programming and engineering mechanics

Preparing for a mid-level robotics engineering role

You can strengthen your candidacy for a mid-level robotics engineer position with a course in one of the disciplines above. For example, you can earn a certificate for completing this free online Introduction to Engineering Mechanics course from the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Senior robotics engineer salary

The average US salary for someone with 4-6 years of experience as a robotics engineer is $90,757 per year. Combined with the reported additional pay of $15,040 per year, the average annual compensation rises to $105,797 [1]. 

Senior robotics engineer skills and experience

Qualifications for senior robotics engineers may include:

• Understanding of control theory and linear algebra

• Strong knowledge of localization, perception, and mapping algorithms

• Experience with software engineering, hardware prototyping, and data analysis

Preparing for an advanced robotics engineering role

You can prepare for a senior-level role by expanding your skillset in advanced engineering concepts. For example, you can broaden your knowledge of static and dynamic object detection and survey common computer vision methods for robotic perception with the Visual Perception for Self-Driving Cars Specialization from the University of Toronto:

How to increase your robotics engineer salary: 3 tips

Several factors can influence robotics engineer salaries. These factors include geographical location, industry, education, and experience. You can also enhance your resume with the following three techniques. 

1. Expand the scope of your expertise.

Robotics engineering is a multidisciplinary field. It combines electrical and mechanical engineering with computer science. You may consider strengthening your core robotics engineering skills to build upon your expertise. For example, C is one of the most commonly used programming languages in robotics. You can increase your proficiency in C programming with a Guided Project like Coursera's Introduction to C Programming Variables Input Output. This project will assist you in developing your knowledge of C type casting, data types, and arithmetic operators:

2. Enhance your resume.

One way to enhance your robotics engineering resume is to earn professional certifications in relevant areas of expertise. You might consider taking an advanced-level class to earn a specialized certificate for your resume. For instance, someone who wants to work in the transportation equipment manufacturing industry might consider learning more about self-driving cars. You can earn a certificate from the University of Toronto with the Introduction to Self-Driving Cars Specialization:

3. Stay current.

Another great way to demonstrate your expertise to employers is to stay current with industry trends and technologies in the robotics field. You might consider

• Following industry leaders on social media

• Reading relevant blogs, and watching YouTube videos

• Joining a community of fellow robotics engineers

You can stay up to date and even learn about upcoming robotics conferences to attend with Robohub.org.

Keep learning with Coursera

Consider building your expertise and increasing your robotics engineer salary by earning a certificate for your resume in Modern Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control Specialization from Northwestern University.