Resources/Salaries/Robotics engineer
Robotics Engineer Salary 2027: Median $104,110 and Pay by Industry
BLS counts robotics engineers as mechanical engineers, who earned a median of $104,110 in May 2025, from under $73,990 to over $164,340. How electronics focused robotics roles compare, pay by industry and job outlook.
- $104,110median pay
- $73,990lowest 10%
- $164,340highest 10%
Quick answer: The government does not publish a separate salary for robotics engineers. It counts them mainly as mechanical engineers, who earned a median of $104,110 in May 2025, with the lowest 10 percent under $73,990 and the highest 10 percent over $164,340. Robotics engineers who work mostly on electronics and controls fall in the electrical and electronics group, where the median was $125,040.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has no occupation code for robotics engineer. Its handbook lists robotic engineers, the people who plan, build and maintain robots, as a specialty of mechanical engineering, so the main figures on this page are for mechanical engineers. We label them that way rather than inventing a robotics only number. If you hire robotics engineers who mainly write control software, also look at our AI engineer salary benchmarks.
How much does a robotics engineer make?
Half of mechanical engineers earned more than $104,110 and half earned less. Industry moves the number a lot: research and development pays far above the group median, as the industry table shows, and robotics engineers with strong software or electronics skills may be hired into better paid groups, such as electrical and electronics engineers.
| Measure | Annual pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $73,990 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $104,110 |
| Highest 10% earn more than | $164,340 |
BLS wage data come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey of employers. They exclude the self employed and do not include stock or equity, which is a large part of pay at venture backed robotics companies.
Which industries pay robotics engineers the most?
Scientific research and development pays the most among the industries that employ the most mechanical engineers, at $132,040. Robotics labs and startups doing research work often fall there. Machinery manufacturing, which includes industrial robot makers, sits just under $100,000.
| Industry | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Scientific research and development services | $132,040 |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | $106,870 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $105,560 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | $103,440 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $98,620 |
Is demand for robotics engineers growing?
BLS projects employment of mechanical engineers to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 17,800 openings a year on average.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Jobs in the US | 298,500 mechanical engineers (2025) |
| Projected growth | 11 percent, 2025 to 2035 |
| Openings per year (average) | About 17,800 a year |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
How does robotics engineer pay compare across engineering groups?
Robotics engineers who spend most of their time on sensors, motors, embedded electronics and controls are often hired under an electrical or electronics title, and those groups pay more at the median. When you price a robotics role, match it to the group closest to the actual work, not to the word robotics in the title.
| BLS group | Median annual pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Mechanical engineers (includes robotic engineers) | $104,110 |
| Electrical engineers | $120,630 |
| Electronics engineers, except computer | $130,220 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers, combined | $125,040 |
What raises a robotics engineer's pay?
The same things that raise pay for most engineers apply here, plus a few that are specific to robots.
- Software depth: motion planning, perception, ROS and machine learning skills move pay toward software engineer levels
- Working at a venture backed robotics or humanoid company, where equity is a big part of the package
- Experience taking a robot from prototype to production
- Safety critical domains such as medical, surgical or defense robotics
- Living in a high cost metro area such as the Bay Area, Boston or Seattle
Frequently asked questions
How much does a robotics engineer make a year?
BLS does not publish robotics engineer pay on its own. It counts robotic engineers as mechanical engineers, who earned a median of $104,110 in May 2025. Robotics engineers focused on electronics and controls fall under electrical and electronics engineers, with a median of $125,040.
Which industry pays robotics engineers the most?
Among the industries employing the most mechanical engineers, scientific research and development services paid the highest median, $132,040 in May 2025. Robotics research labs often fall in that industry.
Do robotics engineers need a degree?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education for mechanical engineers. Many robotics roles also ask for a master's degree or strong project experience.
Is robotics engineering a growing field?
BLS projects 11 percent growth for mechanical engineers from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 17,800 openings a year.
Do these figures include stock options?
No. BLS wages do not count equity, so total pay at a startup or large tech company can be well above these figures.
Sources
Written by recruiters at Work Insiders. Updated November 4, 2026. How we make money.