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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Robotics Engineer actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $122,208 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $87,150 to $222,600. The $85,546 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Engineering within the broader Engineering industry, Robotics Engineers typically hold Bachelor's in ME/EE/CS. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is lab/hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$135,450 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Robotics Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $222,600 — $135,450 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($87,150). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Robotics Engineers average $87,990, the median sits at $122,208, and senior earners pull in $173,536. That $85,546 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $41,841 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $207,900 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $87,850 (average of the bottom 3). That $120,050 delta is real money — $10,004/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Robotics Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $222,600 — $135,450 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($87,150). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Robotics Engineer is $87,990, while senior-level (P90) earners average $173,536. That $85,546 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Robotics Engineers at $147,499 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $129,675) is $17,824.
At the 90th percentile, Robotics Engineers pull in an average of $173,536. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $87,990 | $122,208 | $173,536 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £48,363 | £67,171 | £95,383 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$70,804 | CA$98,338 | CA$139,640 |
| Australia | 13 | A$81,856 | A$113,689 | A$161,438 |
| Sweden | 24 | 483,222 kr | 671,142 kr | 953,021 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $106,199 | $147,499 | $209,449 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $102,627 | $142,538 | $202,403 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $102,060 | $141,750 | $201,285 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $94,500 | $131,250 | $186,375 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $93,366 | $129,675 | $184,139 |
| Washington | 8 | $91,571 | $127,181 | $180,597 |
| New York | 5 | $86,184 | $119,700 | $169,974 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $86,184 | $119,700 | $169,974 |
| Florida | 22 | $85,531 | $118,793 | $168,686 |
| Colorado | 11 | $84,053 | $116,741 | $165,772 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $83,916 | $116,550 | $165,501 |
| Nevada | 5 | $83,765 | $116,340 | $165,203 |
| Arizona | 12 | $83,349 | $115,763 | $164,383 |
| Oregon | 5 | $83,160 | $115,500 | $164,010 |
| Idaho | 3 | $82,908 | $115,150 | $163,513 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $82,253 | $114,240 | $162,221 |
| Utah | 4 | $82,026 | $113,925 | $161,774 |
| Virginia | 7 | $80,676 | $112,050 | $159,111 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $79,632 | $110,600 | $157,052 |
| Alaska | 1 | $79,380 | $110,250 | $156,555 |
| Illinois | 5 | $78,473 | $108,990 | $154,766 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $76,524 | $106,283 | $150,922 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| Montana | 1 | $75,600 | $105,000 | $149,100 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $75,348 | $104,650 | $148,603 |
| Texas | 40 | $74,976 | $104,134 | $147,870 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $74,844 | $103,950 | $147,609 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $74,466 | $103,425 | $146,864 |
| Georgia | 6 | $74,214 | $103,075 | $146,367 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $74,088 | $102,900 | $146,118 |
| Kansas | 4 | $73,710 | $102,375 | $145,373 |
| Michigan | 6 | $73,458 | $102,025 | $144,876 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
| Maryland | 1 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,645 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,645 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $69,930 | $97,125 | $137,918 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $69,552 | $96,600 | $137,172 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $68,607 | $95,288 | $135,308 |
| Missouri | 4 | $68,607 | $95,288 | $135,308 |
| Alabama | 5 | $68,342 | $94,920 | $134,786 |
| Indiana | 3 | $67,284 | $93,450 | $132,699 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $67,284 | $93,450 | $132,699 |
| Iowa | 2 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
| Ohio | 6 | $66,402 | $92,225 | $130,960 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
Geography shapes Robotics Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $147,499 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($222,600 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $105,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $222,600 | 212 | $105,000 | $127,047 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $207,900 | 198 | $105,000 | $120,130 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $193,200 | 184 | $105,000 | $113,214 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $190,050 | 181 | $105,000 | $111,580 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $186,900 | 178 | $105,000 | $109,846 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $185,850 | 177 | $105,000 | $109,268 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $185,850 | 177 | $105,000 | $109,268 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $181,650 | 173 | $105,000 | $106,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $181,650 | 173 | $105,000 | $106,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $177,450 | 169 | $105,000 | $104,644 |
The $85,546 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Robotics Engineer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Engineering sector, very high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Robotics Engineers is $122,208 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $87,990, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $173,536.
The highest-paying city for Robotics Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $222,600. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($222,600), Santa Clara ($207,900), Irvine ($193,200). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Robotics Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $87,150. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Robotics Engineers (10th percentile) average $87,990 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $160,272. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Robotics Engineers average $173,536 nationally — $85,546 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Robotics Engineers can earn up to $316,092.
The top-paying states for Robotics Engineers are California ($147,499 median), Massachusetts ($142,538 median), Hawaii ($141,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Robotics Engineer involves Bachelor's in ME/EE/CS. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically lab/hybrid.
With a national median of $122,208 and representation across 288 metro areas, Robotics Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $85,546 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.