Robotics Engineers
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 17-2199.08United States
Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
- Median annual earnings
- $122,888
- Projected change
- +5.4%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 176.9K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
56.7% of the workforce
Growing to 186.44K by 2035
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The work
What robotics engineers do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates.
- Process or interpret signals or sensor data.
- Debug robotics programs.
- Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications.
- Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters.
- Provide technical support for robotic systems.
- Design end-of-arm tooling.
- Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.
- Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers.
- Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities.
- Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.
- Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems.
- Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes.
- Integrate robotics with peripherals, such as welders, controllers, or other equipment.
- Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots.
- Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes.
- Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of robotic mechanisms, components, or systems, such as planetary rovers, multiple mobile robots, reconfigurable robots, or man-machine interactions.
- Design automated robotic systems to increase production volume or precision in high-throughput operations, such as automated ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis or sorting, moving, or stacking production materials.
- Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications.
- Make system device lists or event timing charts.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $63,794
- 25th percentile
- $88,633
- 50th percentile
- $122,888
- 75th percentile
- $165,733
- 90th percentile
- $204,289
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $122,888 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+5.4%average or slower
2025176,896 jobs
2035 projected186,435 jobs
9,539 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 56.7%
- Associate degree
- 16.7%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 16.7%
- Doctoral degree or more
- 6.7%
- Some college
- 3.3%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Technology Design
- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Equipment Maintenance
- Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Operations Analysis
- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Robotics Engineers1,601 postings
- 02Robotic Systems Engineers154 postings
- 03Controls Engineers106 postings
- 04Robotics Instructors96 postings
- 05Automation Engineers80 postings
- 06Simulation Engineers73 postings
- 07Robotics Specialists68 postings
- 08Robotics Techs60 postings
- 09Robotics Researchers58 postings
- 10Robotics Coaches56 postings
- 11Robotics Teachers56 postings
- 12Robotics Engineering Interns55 postings
- 13Robotics Engineering Technicians49 postings
- 14Autonomy Engineers44 postings
- 15Systems Integration Engineers40 postings
- 16Automation Controls Engineers38 postings
- 17Mechatronics Engineers33 postings
- 18Robot Operators33 postings
- 19Automotive Manufacturing Engineers32 postings
- 20Robotics Automation Technical Architects32 postings
Top employers
- 01Amazon247 postings
- 02Actalent126 postings
- 03Tesla90 postings
- 04General Motors60 postings
- 05Energize Group47 postings
- 06Peak Technologies46 postings
- 07Insight Global43 postings
- 08Meta43 postings
- 09Newell Brands40 postings
- 10GE Vernova39 postings
- 11Anduril Industries35 postings
- 12Alexander Chapman32 postings
- 13Fanuc America Corporation30 postings
- 14KP Recruiting Group29 postings
- 15Johnson & Johnson28 postings
- 16Kelly Services28 postings
- 17Pentangle Tech Services28 postings
- 18Lumicity27 postings
- 19Metrics Recruitment26 postings
- 20Apple25 postings
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