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Job outlook for robotics systems engineers in the United States
Are robotics systems engineer jobs in demand?
Robotics systems engineer job and salary trends over time
Robotics systems engineer jobs over time
Robotics systems engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 140 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 140 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 130 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 121 | 0.00% |
Average robotics systems engineer salary over time
Robotics systems engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $106,361 | $51.14 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $101,896 | $48.99 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $99,776 | $47.97 | --0.3% |
| 2022 | $100,054 | $48.10 | --0.1% |
| 2021 | $100,106 | $48.13 | +1.5% |
Robotics systems engineer jobs by state
Most common states for robotics systems engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 498 | 72% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,712 | 32% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,678 | 28% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,142 | 20% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 181 | 19% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 121 | 19% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,357 | 18% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 868 | 18% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 247 | 18% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,163 | 17% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 125 | 17% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 101 | 17% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 483 | 16% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 337 | 16% |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 166 | 16% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 632 | 15% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 115 | 15% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 993 | 14% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 785 | 14% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 275 | 14% |
Most common cities for robotics systems engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ann Arbor | 1 | 1% | $81,751 |
| 2 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $105,198 |
| 3 | Pasadena | 1 | 1% | $122,006 |
| 4 | Santa Clara | 1 | 1% | $129,489 |
| 5 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $85,710 |
| 6 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $110,460 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh | 1 | 0% | $88,337 |
| 8 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $115,903 |
Robotics Systems Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of robotics systems engineer experts
Xavier University
Carnegie Mellon University
East Tennessee State University
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Liberty University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Northern Michigan University
Elon University
Merrimack College
Marietta College
University of Maryland
University of Baltimore
Lake Superior State University
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer
Professor and ChairXavier University
Department Of Physics
What skills stand out on Robotics Systems Engineer resumes?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Programming languages, numerical design and simulation tools, knowledge of various measurement equipment.
What soft skills should all Robotics Systems Engineers possess?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Communication, teamwork.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Robotics Systems Engineers?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Depends on the engineering career, but in general, an ability to know how to use design software, measurement/testing, and analysis equipment, in addition to prototyping and fabrication tools
What skills will help Robotics Systems Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer: Problem-solving, troubleshooting, independent learner.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
John Dolan: The short answer is no. Although there were some effects back when COVID hit in March 2020, with robotics companies having to lay off some newer employees, the general economy seems to be recovering pretty well, and robotics companies continue to do well. In fact, some robotics companies are more in demand as a result of the coronavirus, since their products allow machines to go into areas where humans can't owing to virus restrictions.
What's a day at work look like for a Robotics Systems Engineer?
John Dolan: Many companies are starting employees in virtual mode, then moving them to the company's geographical location at a later time. So, in some cases graduating students may stay put in the city where they studied for some time before joining their company in a different part of the country. Since a lot of robotics work can be done in simulation and software, the actual content of work for many jobs is not drastically affected by coronavirus restrictions, though virtual meetings are not the same as face-to-face ones. However, ultimately you have to build and physically test robots. The good news it that a lot of such testing is done outdoors, where coronavirus restrictions are not as onerous.
What will help Robotics Systems Engineers increase their earning potential?
John Dolan: Two things come immediately to mind: machine learning and software. Machine learning is being used in all kinds of situations, and robotics is no exception, with major application in perception, behaviors, planning, and other aspects. Most robotics jobs also call for a solid understanding of software, so a good knowledge of C++ and/or Python programming, libraries, testing/validation and software engineering is a big plus.
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty CoordinatorEast Tennessee State University
Surveying and Mapping
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Robotics Systems Engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson: Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Jared Wilson: Technology is rapidly changing many professional fields, and land surveying is not immune from the change; however, it is not technology that makes the professional decisions necessary for the field; it is the individual. Technology is a tool, and as such, the correct tool needs to be selected for the task at hand. My opinion is that technology will drive the speed of data collection and analysis, but it has been and will be the professional who ultimately makes the final decisions.
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Professor of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
College of Engineering
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Sohrab Asgarpoor: Adopting new technology should be an exciting (and expected) reality for those with an engineering degree. The virtual space will continue to grow as folks seek jobs and work online more. But what holds paramount, no matter what particular technological changes arise, is the ability to adapt-and to demonstrate that critical aptitude in their application documents and through their interviews, always highlighting those moments they've done so and articulating their propensity for learning.
What experience really stands out on Robotics Systems Engineer resumes?
Robert Rich: -Certification such as green belt, black-belt, machine learning, Lean Manufacturing, and APICS supply chain/inventory
-Specialized undergraduate research projects that go deep into various leading-edge topics like integrating AI with manufacturing and logistics
-Consulting experience/real projects within areas of undergraduate research
Dr. Galen Duree
Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and ProfessorRose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Department of Physics and Optical Engineering
What experience really stands out on Robotics Systems Engineer resumes?
Dr. Galen Duree: It depends on what you are applying for. If you are working on product development, then internships or co-ops provide a definite advantage. If you are working on developing new ways of doing things, research experiences in academia or companies are advantageous. Either case, this shows a certain maturity in your career path - you have participated in an activity related to the career you are currently pursuing.
What Robotics Systems Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Galen Duree: It again depends on what the graduate sees as their next step - graduate school or a job with a company or lab. If the next step is graduate school, the graduate should investigate what they are interested in pursuing and then where the best school is to get the experience that the graduate thinks he or she wants.
General reading about technologies or reading available articles about subjects the graduate is interested in will help generate questions they can ask potential graduate schools. This time would also be a chance to improve areas where the graduate may feel weak while an undergraduate. Many online resources can help them brush up on week background topics. Do not worry about transfer credits because that is usually not helpful in graduate school, but improve knowledge and experience in areas where the graduate feels weak. If the graduate has identified a graduate school and program to study in, the graduate school might have some recommendations about what to review. All of this will help improve success in graduate school.
If the next step is a job with a company or lab, taking courses to improve communication will help. Many technically competent or even technically brilliant people struggle with effective communication. Techniques about writing reports, making oral presentations, or communicating technical information will help improve success. The gap year also provides time to investigate technologies that the graduate wants to be involved in and the companies or labs in those areas.
Once the graduate has identified areas of interest and companies or labs that the graduate might want to work for, they can be contacted to either answer questions or point the graduate in a direction for further investigation.
In either case, a gap year can provide a chance to refine the graduate's choice for the next steps and help them prepare other skills overlooked during the undergraduate years.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Galen Duree: People with knowledge, even introductory experience, in quantum effects, quantum computing, optics in general (communication, measurements, imaging, illumination, detection), material science and engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, will be in high demand.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
Michael Rudisill: It depends on what you really mean by enduring, but for all practical purposes, once the pandemic has passed, the economy will return, and anyone in the engineering field who wants a job will have many opportunities. Obviously, the short-term effect can be brutal for new graduates as jobs are not as plentiful as "usual"-but in the long term, those that persevere will end up in great careers. In some ways, it will be harder on the senior engineers who haven't stayed employed, as they are missing out on years when their income should be the highest. New graduates are missing relatively low earning years, so the long-term effects should not be as bad looking at lifetime earnings.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Michael Rudisill: Technology will continue to advance-which will increase the need for trained engineers. Even areas such as sales that not many people would think would be looking for engineers when dealing with technologically advanced products need people who understand how the product works, perform, etc.-in other words-trained engineers.
What general advice would you give to a Robotics Systems Engineer?
Michael Rudisill: Patience will be a key - there will be many jobs available - we have been contacted by several employers looking for grads. Still, it certainly is not like we have seen historically. As the economy comes out of the COVID recession, engineering jobs will come back very quickly. By the spring graduation, I think we will be pretty close to back to a somewhat familiar employment picture.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Robotics Systems Engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill: From what we've seen, salaries haven't been reduced, even though demand is down. I would expect wages and salary progression to remain strong as the need for engineering will only continue to grow.
What type of skills will young Robotics Systems Engineers need?
John Ring: While our universities consistently educate engineering students with hard skills and strong engineering fundamentals, tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Our professional environments are filled with data and information, and the constraint is typically how much time individuals can dedicate to solving a problem. At Elon University, we educate tomorrow's engineers to have the hard skills necessary to analyze the information and situations, apply critical thinking techniques to determine ways to solve the issue, and then concisely and efficiently communicate with colleagues as solutions are being set in motion.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
John Ring: An engineering student learns "how to learn" during their time in college. Technology will evolve, and tomorrow's engineers must learn at the same pace so that new technology can be applied to solve a problem.
Rickey Caldwell Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical EngineeringMerrimack College
Departmet of Mechanical Engineering
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
Rickey Caldwell Ph.D.: In terms of job opportunities, no. It may take longer to secure that first job, and it may be an employer's job market for the next several years. This means starting salaries may not be as high as a year ago, and yearly raises may be near zero up to 3% (depending on career fields and markets). Additionally, some benefits, such as tuition reimbursement, may not be available at some companies.
However, I strongly suspect that things will get better (as a wild guess) in 3 - 5 years as the economy rebounds. For the immediate future, the full economic effects of the pandemic have not been fully realized. As companies restructure to deal with their impact on their bottom lines and workers are laid-off, more experienced employees are entering the job marking and seeking jobs. This is very similar to the financial system crash around 2008, so that could be referenced for a similar environment, especially its effect on the Midwest. Job seekers must be persistent.
For enduring changes, the pandemic has presented a great opportunity to change the nature of where we do work. This experiment has been tried before at places like Yahoo, for example. Pre-pandemic, some companies allowed workers to work from home several times per month under flexible scheduling. I believe the coronavirus pandemic will make these types of work options a larger part of the business workplace culture. Additionally, many companies are actively working to enhance their diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. With this renewed attention, there may be more opportunities for workers that are women, BIPOC, LBGQT+, and others to rewrite and form new workplace norms to have new working environments. I strongly encourage people to take their seats at this table and create the world you wish to work in.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Robotics Systems Engineers to find work opportunities?
Rickey Caldwell Ph.D.: The engineering centers of the US seem to have strong job markets. Boston, West Coast, Silicon Prairie, DC area are just a few. There are employment opportunities in every industry and every state. It just may take 6 - 18 months to land that first job. Students may have to cast a bigger and wider search net. For example, if you only want to work in city A, it may take longer to find a job. A better strategy is to search regionally. For example, New England, Mid Atlantic, or the Southwest. Additionally, there are sectors that are always looking for new talent, such as energy production, food companies such as Unilever, and the civilian government work at federally funded research and development laboratories (FFRDC) and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC) such as The MITRE Corporation and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
Ben Ebenhack: I believe that the impact of the pandemic on the US economy is still unfolding and that we won't be able to see any kind of robust turnaround until vaccines are widely available and seen, in practice, to be effective. Until that time, I suspect that we'll continue to see a lot of volatility as investors speculate about recovery, reopening, etc., but the trends will probably vacillate.
Once the pandemic is clearly seen to be reasonably well-controlled, I think that there will be a good deal of pent-up demand for energy and its services. I expect to see a modest recovery in energy prices, but that may not translate to jobs for a few years. Ultimately, the world's need for energy will drive prices up, and there will probably be another boom. Everyone should remember that half of humanity (~3.5 billion people) lack access to modern energy, on which development depends. With global economic recovery, I would expect that to apply considerable upward pressure on energy (and related resource) demands for the next several decades. Alternative energy will continue to grow, but I don't think it can grow as fast as some optimists expect.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Ben Ebenhack: Technology radically transformed American oil and gas production a little over ten years ago, by opening up the shale plays. That will continue to evolve and remain important in the medium term, I think. We may see some of the technological developments opening new opportunities in geothermal power production.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
Craig Carignan: Yes, it will have an enduring impact on aerospace grads, especially those going into aeronautical engineering. The airline industry has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, and commercial aircraft manufacture has come to a screeching halt. That means not just the airplane manufacturers being affected but all of the hundreds of aircraft parts suppliers too. The other factor is that people are learning how to attend conferences and meetings virtually, through applications like Zoom and Teams, which also saves a lot of money on travel. So even when things do start returning to normal, I think that the demand for air travel will not return to the same levels as before.
Some long term impact may also be felt by the space industry. Even though there are quarantine precautions in place (before and after a flight), human space flight might be seen as riskier due to possible infection from viruses that may not show symptoms. So we might try to do more from the ground using robotics. Also, the density of workers in a lot of places in the aerospace industry is very high, and I would expect telecommuting to become more common.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Robotics Systems Engineers to find work opportunities?
Craig Carignan: My bet would be in remote sensing, automated delivery systems (e.g., quadcopters), and robotics. These fields were all doing well before the pandemic, and the current situation has just increased demand for these services. The telecommunications satellite industry is probably also going to be a strong area due to the heightened need for satellite TV and other communications services. I also think the automotive industry will be great for aerospace engineers because of their skills in vehicle design and development of autonomous technology.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Craig Carignan: I think sensing and automation are going to have a huge impact on the aerospace industry, in both manufacturing and operation. The sensing will enable the development of real-time automation (especially vision), and robotics can have a significant impact on increasing quality and productivity. And, as always, robots are only as good as the people who program them, so we need lots of engineering software know-how to go along with that!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Robotics Systems Engineers?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: COVID-19 put into perspective the importance of technology for everyone. Those people who would typically work in fully staffed offices and took IT systems for granted have now realized how the lack of dedicated personnel and resources is a significant issue as everyone is working from home. The same realization has also reached upper-management, often creating a nearly immediate need for innovation that would have otherwise remained just a plan for the future. Graduates in the IT field and technology, in general, will benefit from this realization, as projects move from the planning stage into implementation and eventually maintenance. This increment in reliance on IT-related resources will create a greater need for employment.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Robotics Systems Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: Cities that are typically associated with technology will probably remain hubs of innovation, especially if they have local administrations that are favorable towards entrepreneurship. However, the recent need for companies to leverage the ability to work remotely has opened up the possibilities of workers who may not otherwise be willing to relocate. This trend is probably here to stay for a while, so the ability of graduates to work with virtual collaborators will bring tech jobs to parts of the country that are not typically known for innovation. Even though there probably will not be clusters that will identify new equivalents of Silicon Valley out of nowhere, the fact that the reach of potential employees has extended beyond their geographical immediacy will create major opportunities for any location.
How do you envision technology impacting Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Giovanni Vincenti: Technology will take an ever more prominent role in any field over the next few years. However, it is important for companies to realize that someone who is somewhat familiar with IT probably will not have the same expertise as a trained technologist. Whether we are creating mobile applications, finding new ways to deliver physical products, or ways to facilitate the workflow when people are working remotely, technology will remain the unifying foundation across most fields and gain significant importance in the list of essential assets for operations continuity.
Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Robotics EngineeringLake Superior State University
Mechanical Engineering
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Robotics Systems Engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.: It's evident that social distancing regulations have already affected our way of life, including our work routine, and will continue to do so for the near future. This is only going to accelerate the growth of robotics and automation that we had already been experiencing in recent years. A human working closely with a robot is still tolerated, while multiple humans being close to each other is becoming less acceptable. Besides, robots are not affected by any sort of virus, including COVID19 (the exception being computer viruses, of course). This tells me that the trend towards human-robot collaboration will become more dominant as the regulations for social distancing become stricter in the industry. Mobile robots represent another technology that may gain popularity, due to the pandemic. Applications that require non-stationary, autonomous systems, such as disinfecting facilities, greeting people, serving customers, and others, will benefit from using mobile robots.