Robotics Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$118,000
national median salary
$81,000 to $158,000. Last updated July 2026.
Highest Paying
$169,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$123,000
Honolulu, HI
Lowest Paying
$89,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), state pay-transparency job postings, and community submissions. Most ranges are anchored to BLS OES occupation wage percentiles and placed by seniority level (entry near the 25th, mid at the median, senior at the 75th); a minority of emerging roles retain a modeled estimate where BLS has no matching series. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated July 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 17-2199. Full methodology.
The average Robotics Engineer salary in the United States is $118,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $81,000 at the 25th percentile to $158,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $169,000, while Honolulu offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Salary is driven by expertise in perception, motion planning, and control systems.
Robotics Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Robotics Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Robotics Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $16,520 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$16,520 per year
≈ +$15,340 per year
≈ +$14,160 per year
≈ +$12,980 per year
≈ +$12,980 per year
≈ +$11,800 per year
≈ +$11,800 per year
≈ +$10,620 per year
What you should know.
Salary is driven by expertise in perception, motion planning, and control systems. Engineers with production robotics experience in logistics, manufacturing, or surgical robotics command premiums. Proficiency with ROS2, embedded C++, and sensor fusion significantly widens compensation bands.
Junior robotics engineers start at $100,000 to $125,000. Mid-level engineers with deployed systems reach $140,000 to $170,000 after three to four years. Senior robotics engineers earn $175,000 to $220,000, while principal engineers at top firms exceed $250,000 in total compensation.
Equity at robotics startups can add $30,000 to $100,000 in annual value. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Hardware prototyping budgets and conference travel are common perks at research-oriented companies.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Robotics Engineers typically earn $106,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Robotics Engineer pay.
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