Salary guide, May 2025
Automation Engineer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Engineers, All Other in the United States was $122,930 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $90,970 and $158,090.
Also searched as: Manufacturing Automation Engineer, Automation Specialist. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $66,810 | $90,970 | $122,930 | $158,090 | $189,950 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $32.12 | $43.73 | $59.10 | $76.01 | $91.32 |
BLS estimated 154,070 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $91,790 | $66,790 to $123,350 | 1,330 | 0.48 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $92,790 | $71,050 to $131,780 | 870 | 0.61 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $115,210 | $94,340 to $139,880 | 970 | 0.69 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $104,910 | $82,500 to $131,470 | 970 | 1.32 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,300 | $101,270 to $174,490 | 5,780 | 0.61 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $135,300 | $101,270 to $174,490 | 5,780 | 0.61 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $110,010 | $82,760 to $140,930 | 2,720 | 0.68 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $121,910 | $85,050 to $150,090 | 1,570 | 0.35 |
Rank every metro for Automation Engineer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing$164,720
- Sawmills and Wood Preservation$149,250
- Beverage Manufacturing$136,090
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$132,760
- Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing$129,040
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$128,860
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$127,660
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$125,950
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$124,380
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$124,340
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$124,320
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$120,730
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$120,730
- Chemical Manufacturing$120,130
- Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing$119,940
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 34,400 | $86,320 | $109,590 | $137,970 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 8,340 | $94,990 | $125,950 | $162,810 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 8,060 | $86,690 | $113,240 | $138,630 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 5,890 | $87,230 | $105,430 | $132,960 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5,400 | $98,660 | $124,340 | $143,620 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 4,310 | $91,710 | $115,030 | $158,560 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3,500 | $84,060 | $104,130 | $129,970 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 3,340 | $96,850 | $120,130 | $152,110 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,910 | $102,090 | $132,760 | $170,530 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 2,310 | $101,810 | $128,860 | $160,440 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 1,810 | $74,150 | $94,090 | $111,450 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,530 | $87,300 | $109,000 | $131,390 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,530 | $84,810 | $105,130 | $130,360 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,250 | $90,950 | $110,580 | $138,920 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 1,190 | $89,360 | $111,890 | $135,970 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 1,130 | $93,670 | $108,590 | $134,180 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 940 | $86,570 | $106,830 | $130,450 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 940 | $79,460 | $100,800 | $124,460 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 910 | $80,030 | $99,650 | $114,630 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 830 | $97,650 | $127,660 | $146,310 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 770 | $81,890 | $99,560 | $125,360 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 770 | $90,890 | $119,940 | $133,090 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $107,590 | $120,730 | $155,020 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 740 | $107,590 | $120,730 | $155,020 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 630 | $83,380 | $102,580 | $125,810 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 620 | $82,460 | $103,460 | $125,980 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 620 | $86,780 | $124,380 | $143,340 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 570 | $63,580 | $79,720 | $97,760 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 490 | $65,450 | $91,140 | $113,750 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $97,570 | $119,130 | $152,180 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 400 | $72,230 | $92,130 | $108,880 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 390 | $60,540 | $76,580 | $92,540 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 380 | $59,890 | $76,790 | $93,290 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 360 | $86,210 | $103,810 | $125,870 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 310 | $94,940 | $110,950 | $139,980 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 310 | $74,600 | $101,510 | $121,450 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 300 | $77,450 | $97,650 | $119,720 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 290 | $66,330 | $98,810 | $127,590 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 290 | $66,330 | $98,810 | $127,590 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 280 | $66,870 | $78,640 | $112,190 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 250 | $81,120 | $102,900 | $119,730 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 240 | $84,880 | $103,420 | $142,790 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 190 | $85,960 | $108,740 | $139,980 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 150 | $65,050 | $76,160 | $91,350 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 150 | $65,770 | $92,580 | $103,680 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 140 | $97,530 | $106,130 | $127,790 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 140 | $63,240 | $65,450 | $98,790 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 120 | $100,820 | $113,270 | $139,750 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 120 | $67,850 | $103,210 | $132,790 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 120 | $76,980 | $94,450 | $113,000 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 120 | $103,200 | $129,040 | $138,150 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 110 | $60,540 | $76,430 | $102,150 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 100 | $82,400 | $105,460 | $138,240 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 80 | $100,800 | $118,500 | $157,060 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 80 | $63,590 | $73,770 | $84,660 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 80 | $90,930 | $106,200 | $127,690 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 70 | $98,220 | $136,090 | $157,060 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 70 | $76,310 | $92,980 | $110,670 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 60 | $108,140 | $124,320 | $125,270 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 60 | $113,310 | $164,720 | $176,800 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 60 | $77,250 | $90,430 | $109,610 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 50 | $89,090 | $90,300 | $120,010 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 50 | $66,990 | $79,990 | $130,370 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 50 | $48,090 | $75,290 | $130,370 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 50 | $119,970 | $149,250 | $149,250 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 50 | $88,730 | $110,640 | $133,290 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 50 | $73,410 | $77,720 | $95,480 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $77,350 | $91,990 | $127,870 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 40 | $52,860 | $80,240 | $119,350 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Automation Engineer, clarify the base pay before discussing call-outs, travel or extra shifts. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $85,750 | $117,750 | $152,670 |
| May 2025 | $90,970 | $122,930 | $158,090 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about safety and standards?
Guarding, light curtains, safety PLC functions, risk assessments and robot safety standards are part of the work. We ask what risk assessment method they used and how a safety validation was documented.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Automation Engineer?
The median annual wage for Engineers, All Other in the United States was $122,930 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $90,970 and $158,090. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $66,810. 90% earned less than $189,950.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Automation Engineer at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 154,070 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Automation Engineers build and maintain the complex cells that drive production speed and quality. BLS categorizes this role under Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199), a broad category reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the work. The national median wage is $122,930 annually, reflecting a median change of $5180 compared to the $117,750 median from May 2024.
The middle band width for this occupation is $67,120, based on a P25 of $90,970 and a P75 of $158,090. This wide band underscores the diversity of the role, from junior cell maintenance to the design of full-line automation systems requiring complex ROI justification.
National industry medians are illustrative of the value sectors place on automation. Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing shows a median of $164,720, while Sawmills and Wood Preservation lists $149,250. Beverage Manufacturing reports a median of $136,090. These industry-specific benchmarks show that companies relying on automated throughput often exceed the national median for the broader engineering category. It is essential for hiring managers to realize that these figures exclude non-base pay like project completion incentives and equity, which are increasingly common in automation integration. Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these figures act as a baseline, but the specific ability to integrate vision and robotics often warrants pay above the median.
Regional demand for automation skills is high in specific metro areas. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, area reports a median of $151,340, with a reported median change of $11,270. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, metro shows a median of $125,060 with a median change of $3060. The high median in Washington reflects regional market conditions rather than unique tasks for the role. The location quotient of 2.97 in Washington and 1.21 in Los Angeles shows the varying density of automation jobs across the country. Hiring managers must remember that location quotient is an employment concentration metric, not a tool for assessing local candidate supply or wage premiums. Use these figures as a starting point to benchmark your offers against regional baselines while focusing on the specific automation platforms and robot integration experience your plant requires.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Why is this role in the broad 'Engineers, All Other' category?
Automation engineering involves multiple technical disciplines, including mechanical and electrical. BLS classifies this role under a broader occupation to capture its multifaceted duties.
What is the primary factor in the $67,120 middle band width?
The wide band captures the full range of engineering complexity, from simple cell support to high-level automation design and commissioning. Senior engineers managing ROI and design occupy the upper range.
Does the median change of $5180 suggest competitive hiring?
A $5180 median change shows steady upward momentum in market compensation. It signals that companies are adjusting pay to maintain competitive advantage for automation talent.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4