What Is the Average Automation Engineer Salary in the US?

Key takeaways

An automation engineer's salary is competitive, as they play an important role in many industries, from manufacturing to finance and health care.

• An automation engineer can earn up to $107,126 per year, according to ZipRecruiter [1].

• Depending on your experience level, education, location, and industry of choice, you can earn more or less as an automation engineer. 

• You can prepare yourself for a career in automation engineering by gaining knowledge of machine learning, computers, and programming languages. 

Explore the factors that can impact your salary as an automation engineer. If you are ready to start gaining more experience, check out the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate, where you can learn how to develop a strong foundation in IT as well as hardware and software skills that can support you in your career. 

What does an automation engineer do? 

An automation engineer helps a company streamline their processes and computer systems. Their ultimate goal is to create and improve technology to increase productivity and reduce costs. This role is needed in organizations specializing in production and manufacturing. For this reason, you may find yourself working in a factory or plant. Throughout your career, you'll help design, test, and implement automation technology, solve problems, and find ways to improve existing technology. Some of your specific duties might include:

• Identifying automation and efficiency opportunities

• Designing automation systems and QA tests for functionality

• Maintaining project files

• Providing training and consultation on new technology

• Designing advanced precision equipment

• Installing new applications 

• Using specifications from clients and customers to create new technology

• Identifying and correcting bugs, defects, and problems that arise during the automation process

As an automation engineer, you must develop several workplace and technical skills. Technical skills involve knowledge of computers, programming languages, actuators, robotics, and machine learning. Workplace skills you should possess include leadership, innovation, flexibility, communication, and problem-solving. 

Read more: Automation vs. AI: Meaning, Differences, and Real World Uses

What is the average salary of an automation engineer?

An automation engineer's salary is competitive and can sometimes reach over six figures. According to five popular job sites, the average range for this career path in the United States is $86,344 to $118,000. The reported average annual salary for an automation engineer is [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:

The Glassdoor salary represents median total pay and includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Factors that affect automation engineer salary

Many factors can influence your average automation engineer's salary. For example, the more education you have, the more likely you are to earn a higher salary. This is also true for the amount of experience you have. Your industry may affect how much you earn, as can the geographic location where you live and work. Take a closer look at how much of a role these factors play in earning potential.

Will AI replace automation engineers?

Though AI is growing ever more utilized and popular, it isn’t replacing the need for automation engineers. Instead, it is changing automation engineers' work and the tools they use, and engineers are in demand who have technical AI skills. For example, AI can create smart manufacturing systems that adjust in real time, and robotics with AI vision handle material inspection and assembly. However, engineers need to optimize workflows, navigate use cases AI can’t handle, and integrate systems. 

Education

Most automation engineer employers want you to have a bachelor's degree in automation, computer science, or electrical or mechanical engineering. In some cases, an associate degree is acceptable. Also, keep in mind that some organizations may require you to have a more advanced degree to work there.

According to Zippia, 69 percent of automation engineers hold a bachelor’s degree, while 16 percent have a master’s and 11 percent have an associate degree [4]. Even when a more advanced degree isn't necessary, Zippia reports that automation engineers with a master's or doctorate may make more than those with a bachelor's or associate degree [6]:

Experience

As with many careers, the more experience you have working as an automation engineer, the more likely you are to earn a higher salary. Many employers want job candidates with an average of three to five years of experience, and some require even more. Take a look at how much you might earn as you gain more experience [2]:

Industry

Automation engineers can work in many industries, though manufacturing is the most common place where you'll find jobs. You may work in a factory or plant that makes vehicles, food, or pharmaceuticals. Waste management and infrastructure are also big fields for automation engineers. You may even find yourself working in software development or fulfillment for e-commerce. Some common employers for automation engineers include: 

• Apple 

• Carrier

• Amazon

• Marriott International

• Jobot

• Workday

• Leidos 

Take a look at how much automation engineers earn in various industries, according to Glassdoor [2]: 

• Manufacturing: $95,000

• Aerospace and defense: $111,000

• Agriculture: $95,000

• Telecommunications: $104,000

• Health care: $115,500

• Real estate: $88,000

• Legal: $114,500

• Information technology: $101,000

Zippia reports that the highest-paying industries for automation engineers are [4]:

• Retail: $109,438

• Technology: $104,780

• Hospitality: $92,375

• Manufacturing: $87,142

Location

The state and city where you live and work may impact your salary as an automation engineer. For example, California currently pays the most for this role, and most of the highest-paying states are on the West Coast, based on data gathered by Zippia [4]. While San Francisco is the highest-paying city for automation engineers, additional high-paying cities are spread throughout the United States. Take a look at the top 10 highest-paying cities for automation engineers, according to Zippia [4]:

• San Francisco, California: $129,922

• Seattle, Washington: $101,488

• Hillsboro, Oregon: $95,805

• Boston, Massachusetts: $92,938

• Washington, DC: $89,807

• Arlington, Virginia: $89,761

• Portland, Maine: $89,563

• Phoenix, Arizona: $89,386

• Austin, Texas: $88,403

• Salt Lake City, Utah: $87,148

Position 

Automation engineering job titles vary. Depending on what you do and your level of experience, you may have a unique job title and duties. Some common automation engineer jobs and their average base salaries include:

• Automation designer: $124,00

• Senior automation engineer: $156,000

• Cloud automation engineer: $136,000

• Test automation engineer: $134,000

• QA automation engineer: $118,000

• Project engineer: $106,000

• Process controls engineer: $127,000

• Junior automation engineer: $109,000

• Automation systems engineer: $150,000

• Automation engineer II: $131,000

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of March 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Automation engineer job outlook

While the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't have a specific listing for automation engineers, it does have listings for industrial engineers. The outlook for this field from 2024 to 2034 is stronger than average, at 11 percent [7]. 

On one hand, the need for automation is growing. While companies use technology to increase productivity, businesses still need automation professionals to help with issues like creativity and problem-solving involved in the automation process. The job market also lacks qualified candidates, and many companies must fill roles left behind by those retiring or switching careers.

Explore free resources to kickstart your automation engineering career

Keep up with the latest trends and technologies shaping your industry by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat. Then, explore free automation and engineering resources to optimize your professional growth:

• Take the quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Hear success stories: Meet the Automotive Tech Exploring New Careers with Coursera Plus 

• Watch on YouTube: Software Engineering Roadmap for Beginners (With NO Experience)

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