Last updated May 20, 2026. Wage anchors use BLS OEWS May 2025 national data; occupation matching is interpreted for factory automation roles with help from O*NET occupation definitions.
Robotics pay depends on whether the role is maintaining robot cells, programming paths, improving cycle time, integrating PLC handshakes, commissioning new equipment, or owning a production line after launch. A robotics technician and a robot programmer may work around the same cell, but the pay changes with responsibility, travel, and how much risk the person carries.
The Salary Anchors
BLS does not publish one simple robot programmer wage line. The closest factory-automation anchors are mechatronics technicians, electrical/electronic engineering technologists and technicians, and electrical engineers for more design-heavy or engineering-owned roles.
May 2025 BLS OEWS data shows mechatronics technicians at a $73,900 median and electrical/electronic engineering technologists and technicians at a $78,190 median. Electrical engineers sit much higher, with a $120,630 median, which helps explain why robot cell design, integration, and commissioning roles can price above routine cell support.
Technician vs Programmer vs Engineer
A robotics technician may recover faults, replace tooling, troubleshoot sensors, support production, and escalate PLC or robot logic issues. A robot programmer may create or modify paths, frames, I/O handshakes, zone logic, tooling behavior, and cycle-time improvements. A robotics engineer may own cell design, safety review, simulation, process capability, or integration architecture.
Those differences matter more than the word robotics in the title. A posting for a robotics engineer that is really a line-support technician role will disappoint candidates. A robot programmer role that requires travel and launch support should be priced and described accordingly.
Skills That Increase Value
FANUC, ABB, KUKA, Yaskawa, Kawasaki, or other robot platform experience can help, but the strongest candidates also understand PLC-to-robot communication, safety zones, sensors, vision, grippers, weld or material-handling process limits, and how production operators actually use the cell.
Cycle-time work and downtime recovery are especially valuable because they directly affect output. A candidate who can make a robot move is useful. A candidate who can make a cell run reliably, safely, and faster is worth more.
How Employers Should Write The Posting
Say whether the person will teach points, write programs, recover faults, travel to launches, support welding, tend machines, integrate vision, or coordinate with controls engineers. Robotics candidates search by platform and process, not just by title.
If the role is a true robot programmer role, include the expected platforms and travel. If it is plant support, include shift, overtime, call-in, and production environment. Honest detail attracts better applicants.
BLS Wage Anchors To Compare
Data note: Robot Programmer is not a single BLS occupation. This guide uses May 2025 OEWS data for mechatronics, engineering technology, and electrical engineering roles as factory-automation salary anchors.
| BLS occupation | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-3024 – Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $59,780 | $73,900 | $88,540 | $109,890 |
| 17-3023 – Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $61,610 | $78,190 | $97,650 | $115,700 |
| 17-2071 – Electrical Engineers | $92,830 | $120,630 | $152,950 | $184,300 |
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How To Use This Guide
For candidates, compare the job description against the responsibility level in this guide. A title alone is not enough. Look for the platforms, equipment, travel, shift, startup pressure, and troubleshooting authority.
For employers, use the guide to decide whether the posting is priced like the work you actually need. Better detail usually means fewer weak applications and more serious candidates from the PLC, controls, robotics, and industrial electrical market.
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