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 The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) 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 below. 

Average robotics engineer salary in Canada

The average robotics engineer salary in Canada is $74,522 per year, according to Glassdoor [1]. The salary ranges from $58,000 to $87,000. 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, factors like the cost of living may influence robotics engineer salaries across Canada. With that in mind, here are the average salaries in the five highest-paying cities in Canada:

*The salary insights below are sourced from Indeed in May 2024 [2].

Top 5 companies hiring robotics engineers

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

Robotics engineers obtain a degree in engineering, computer science, or mathematics to start their careers. Employers may also prefer candidates with professional certificates in robotics engineering. 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. 

Entry-level robotics engineer salary

The average salary in Canada for someone with zero to one year of experience as a robotics engineer is $68,047 per year [3]. 

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

If you don’t yet qualify for an entry-level position, consider expanding your skill set with an introductory class like Rice University’s Fundamentals of Computing Specialization.

Mid-level robotics engineer salary

The average Canadian salary for someone with one to four years of experience as a robotics engineer is $72,316 per year [3]. 

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

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 Georgia Institute of Technology’s free online Introduction to Engineering Mechanics. 

Senior robotics engineer salary

The average Canadian salary for someone with five to nine years of experience as a robotics engineer is $80,903 per year [3]. 

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

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 robotics's most commonly used programming languages. You can increase your proficiency in C programming with a Guided Project like Coursera's Introduction to C Programming Variables Input Output. 

This project is designed to 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 certificates in relevant areas of expertise. 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 learn 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.