Automation Engineer Salary in 2026
Design and implement automated testing and deployment systems to improve software quality.
Median Salary
$108,000
$9,000/mo
Entry Level
$75,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$155,000
experienced
Job Growth
+20%
10-yr outlook
Automation Engineer Overview
Design and implement automated testing and deployment systems to improve software quality.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
3-5 years
Industry
Technology
Total Jobs (US)
95K
5-Year Growth
+15%
Category
Technology
Hourly Rate
$51.92/hr
Monthly Pay
$9,000
Automation Engineer Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Automation Engineer salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Automation Engineer Salary
$128,000
$10,667/month · $4,923/biweekly · $61.54/hr
Automation Engineer Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Automation Engineer field.
Entry-level Automation Engineers earn around $75,000, while the top 10% earn $170,000 or more.
Top Paying States for Automation Engineers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,000 | +$19,000 |
| Washington | $121,000 | +$13,000 |
| Texas | $106,000 | $-2,000 |
| Michigan | $103,000 | $-5,000 |
| Ohio | $103,000 | $-5,000 |
Top Paying Cities for Automation Engineers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $135,000 | +$27,000 |
| Seattle | $123,000 | +$15,000 |
| Austin | $111,000 | +$3,000 |
| Houston | $107,000 | $-1,000 |
| Detroit | $103,000 | $-5,000 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Automation Engineer Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Automation Engineer from entry level to expert.
$75,000
0-2 years
$115,000
3-7 years
$155,000
8-14 years
$185,000
15+ years
Related Technology Jobs
Automation Engineer Salary FAQ
Methodology & Data Sources — Automation Engineer Salary
How we calculate Automation Engineer salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.
- National median salary: $108,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to Automation Engineer in the Technology sector.
- Entry-level ($75,000) and senior-level ($155,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
- Job outlook: +20% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 95K total positions nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 15% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Technology sector wages.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $108,000.
Authoritative US data sources for Automation Engineer compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Automation Engineer job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections — 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data for Technology
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Automation Engineer salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Python, Selenium, CI/CD), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release
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