Salary guide, May 2025
Automation Engineer pay in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was $135,300 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $101,270 and $174,490.
The Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $12,370 above the national median of $122,930, both from BLS May 2025.
BLS publishes the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, not Northern New Jersey separately.
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.
What should you know about northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $82,450 | $101,270 | $135,300 | $174,490 | $197,490 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39.64 | $48.69 | $65.05 | $83.89 | $94.95 |
BLS estimated 5,780 workers employed in this occupation in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Location quotient: 0.61.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Automation Engineer median is $135,300. The all-occupations median in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $61,430. Ratio: 2.20 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.61 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $97,960 | $130,260 | $164,630 |
| May 2025 | $101,270 | $135,300 | $174,490 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-2199 Engineers, All Other, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $127,640 | $97,100 to $162,050 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $125,320 | $96,520 to $149,230 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
For Northern New Jersey, the median salary for an Automation Engineer is $135,300, consistent with the broader New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area reported under SOC 17-2199. This represents an increase from the previous median of $130,260 in May 2024, a medianChange of 5040.
The middle band width for this occupation in the area is 73220, with a P25 at $101,270 and a P75 at $174,490. Manufacturing Headhunters points out that the BLS uses a broader occupational definition, meaning the figures include many engineering roles beyond pure automation.
National manufacturing data serves as a reference point with $164,720 for Audio and Video Equipment, $149,250 for Sawmills and Wood Preservation, and $136,090 for Beverage Manufacturing. These national figures are specific to industries, not local geography. Relevant comparison metros include Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury with a $127,640 median and Trenton-Princeton with a $125,320 median. The provided data excludes non-wage items such as performance bonuses or sign-on incentives.
The job involves critical tasks like commissioning automated lines, PLC and robot integration, and conducting ROI analysis for plant floor improvements. The location quotient of 0.61 indicates a lower density of these roles relative to national averages. Because the mapping is broad, plant-specific duties can vary significantly even among those holding this title. The national median for this occupation is $122,930, which is lower than the local metro figure. Users should remember these are annual salary figures, not hourly, and do not reflect employer-specific pay structures or willingness to move.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What does the broader mapping imply for recruiting?
Because the occupation is classified under a broad engineering category, the reported salary reflects a mix of many roles. This necessitates caution when using these numbers to set pay for specific automation tasks.
Why is the median change listed as 5040?
The medianChange of 5040 represents the arithmetic difference between the May 2025 median of $135,300 and the May 2024 median of $130,260. This reflects market movement within the broader occupational group.
Are these local figures representative of Northern New Jersey specifically?
The data is aggregated at the New York-Newark-Jersey City level, as BLS does not provide separate wage publication for Northern New Jersey. This means the wage reflects the wider metropolitan area.
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