Salary guide, May 2025
Automation Engineer pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL was $92,790 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $71,050 and $131,780.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL median is $30,140 below the national median of $122,930, both from BLS May 2025.
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 tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $59,740 | $71,050 | $92,790 | $131,780 | $164,290 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $28.72 | $34.16 | $44.61 | $63.36 | $78.98 |
BLS estimated 870 workers employed in this occupation in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 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 $92,790. The all-occupations median in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $48,940. Ratio: 1.90 (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 | $78,380 | $102,310 | $131,730 |
| May 2025 | $71,050 | $92,790 | $131,780 |
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, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $82,100 | $67,480 to $109,050 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $101,490 | $69,470 to $137,880 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Tampa-St. 61. Manufacturing Headhunters notes a current median annual wage of $92,790, which reflects a medianChange of -9520 compared to the May 2024 median of $102,310. This decline is notable and indicates a significant shift in the earnings distribution for this broader occupational category over the past year.
In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, region, the Engineers, All Other occupation (SOC 17-2199) shows 870 in employment and a location quotient of 0.61. Manufacturing Headhunters notes a current median annual wage of $92,790, which reflects a medianChange of -9520 compared to the May 2024 median of $102,310. This decline is notable and indicates a significant shift in the earnings distribution for this broader occupational category over the past year.
The middle-band width for Tampa is 60730, defined by a P25 of $71,050 and a P75 of $131,780. The national median for this occupation is $122,930, putting Tampa's median notably lower than the national figure. In comparison, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, reports a median of $82,100, while North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, reports a median of $101,490. National industrial benchmarks such as Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing ($164,720) and Sawmills and Wood Preservation ($149,250) illustrate the potential range for high-end specialized roles.
BLS data for the 17-2199 category is inherently general, covering diverse engineering roles that may not correlate directly with automation tasks. The median wage excludes bonuses, stock grants, and benefits. These figures provide a broad metro-wide overview, not a specific salary scale for automation engineers. They do not account for candidate experience, technical certifications, or employer-specific compensation strategies. Do not treat these numbers as a guarantee; they are market indicators for a broad, non-specific category of engineers.
Roles requiring PLC and robot integration remain highly specialized. Given the median decline in the Tampa market, hiring managers must look at the middle-band width to understand the competitive market. While the overall median has decreased, high-end technical expertise in automation often commands compensation at the higher percentiles of the band. Ensure that your firm's offers reflect both the specific technical tasks of the role and the local competitive realities, rather than relying solely on the broad-category BLS median.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How do I account for the significant median decline of 9520?
The change is an arithmetic result based on the BLS data releases for the current and prior periods. It signals that the aggregate median for this broad occupation has shifted downward.
What is the danger of using the Engineers, All Other category for my automation role?
Since this category is a catch-all, it may include engineers from unrelated fields with vastly different salary expectations. It is not a precise measure for automation specialists.
Why is the middle-band width so large in Tampa?
The large width of 60730 reflects the diverse range of engineering disciplines included in the 'All Other' category. This indicates significant pay variation between the P25 and P75.
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