Robotics Engineers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2072 · O*NET 17-2072.01
Robotics Engineers fall under the Architecture and Engineering category in the U.S. occupational classification. Robotics Engineers earn a median salary of $127,590 per year, ranking in the top 5% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about robotics engineers right now
If your teen loves building things that move, sense, and think for themselves, robotics engineering turns that instinct into a serious profession. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, robotics engineers earned a median wage of $127,590 in May 2024, with the lowest tenth around $79,390 and the top tenth reaching about $199,060, and employment is projected to grow 6.2 percent, faster than the average for all occupations. This is a real engineering career, so the front door is an ABET-accredited bachelor's degree, usually in Robotics or Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical and Computer Engineering. That degree alone qualifies a graduate for entry-level roles. From there, an optional but well-defined ladder exists: pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam near graduation to become an Engineer-in-Training, gain about four years of supervised experience, then sit the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam for a state PE license. Most robotics engineers work in private manufacturing and tech firms under the industrial exemption, so the PE is a credibility boost rather than a legal must. The field is expanding fast. The International Federation of Robotics reported 542,000 industrial robots installed worldwide in 2024, more than double the annual count of a decade earlier, and it names Physical AI, robots that train themselves in simulation instead of relying on hand-coded programming, as a top trend that grows the design and systems-integration work these engineers do. Notably, 96 percent of organizations adopting automation said they prefer candidates with AI experience. To prepare in high school, your student should take the most demanding math available, ideally through calculus, along with physics and any computer science courses. Learning to code in Python and C, tinkering with Arduino or Raspberry Pi projects, and joining a FIRST Robotics or VEX team all build the exact skills colleges and employers look for. Encourage curiosity about how machines work, because that hands-on habit is what carries a young roboticist through a rigorous engineering degree and into a rewarding career.
What do robotics engineers earn?
The median annual wage for robotics engineers is $127,590. That puts robotics engineers at #815 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is robotics engineers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for robotics engineers is +6.2%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 95K positions in 2024 to 101K in 2034, a net change of 6K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become robotics engineer?
The standard path into robotics engineers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
How to become robotics engineer: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 4 years (entry) to about 8 years for full PE licensure. Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
Bachelor's degree in an ABET-accredited engineering program
~4 yearsThe minimum entry requirement per BLS. An ABET-accredited bachelor's degree in Robotics/Mechatronics, Mechanical, or Electrical/Computer Engineering qualifies a graduate for entry-level robotics engineer roles and lays the foundation for the optional PE licensure ladder.
- •High school diploma with strong math and physics
- •Complete an ABET-accredited bachelor's in Robotics/Mechatronics, Mechanical, or Electrical/Computer Engineering
- •ABET accreditation is what makes the degree count toward later PE licensure
- 2
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
Optional~0.5 yearsAdministered by NCEES and taken near or just after graduation. Robotics candidates sit the FE Mechanical or FE Electrical and Computer version. Passing confers Engineer-in-Training (EIT) / Engineer Intern status. The exam is computer-based and offered year-round.
- •Completed or near-completed ABET-accredited degree
- •Register with NCEES for the FE Mechanical or FE Electrical and Computer exam
NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam - 3
Qualifying work experience under a licensed PE
Optional~4 yearsState boards require roughly four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed PE before final licensure. NCEES notes that first-time PE passers most commonly have four or more years of experience.
- •Hold EIT/Engineer Intern status
- •Accumulate roughly four years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed Professional Engineer
- •Document experience for the state board's PE application
- 4
Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam and state license
Optional~0.5 yearsPassing the NCEES PE Mechanical or PE Electrical and Computer exam, plus meeting the state board's education and experience requirements, yields the Professional Engineer license. Licensure is optional for most robotics engineers, who work under the industrial exemption, but it is a recognized advancement credential. Renewal is typically every two years with continuing education.
- •Meet the state board's education plus experience requirements
- •Pass the NCEES PE Mechanical or PE Electrical and Computer exam
- •Obtain the state PE license and maintain it via renewal roughly every 2 years with about 30 hours of continuing education (varies by state)
NCEES Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about robotics engineers
What is the median salary for robotics engineers?
The median annual salary for robotics engineers is $127,590 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is robotics engineers a growing career?
BLS projects +6.2% growth for robotics engineers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become robotics engineer?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to robotics engineers?
Related occupations within the Architecture and Engineering category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.