Factory Automation Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Factory Automation Engineer make in the United States? As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Factory Automation Engineer in the United States is $97,908 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Factory Automation Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,666
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,300 to $105,633
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,284

Key Factors That Influence Factory Automation Engineer Salaries

A Factory Automation Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Factory Automation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Factory Automation Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $84,027
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,299
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,887
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,657
  • Expert (over 8 years): $113,977
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Process Engineer I less than 1 year $84,027
Factory Automation Engineer 1-2 years $96,299
Process Engineer III 2-4 years $106,887
Process Engineer IV 5-8 years $130,657
Process Engineering Supervisor over 8 years $113,977

Top Paying Cities for Factory Automation Engineer

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $123,491
  • San Francisco: $122,139
  • Oakland: $119,565

Factory Automation Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Factory Automation Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Factory Automation Engineer positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Factory Automation Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Factory Automation Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking $146,862 $71.0 50%
Pharmaceuticals $127,281 $61.0 30%
Biotechnology $122,385 $59.0 25%
Energy & Utilities $117,490 $56.0 20%
Aerospace & Defense $107,699 $52.0 10%

How Education impacts a Factory Automation Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Factory Automation Engineer professionals enter the field with a Bachelor's degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Factory Automation Engineer with a Bachelor's is between $87,914 and $91,683.

Factory Automation Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Factory Automation Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.5%
High School 1.5%
Associate's Degree 2.1%
Bachelor's Degree 51.7%
Master's Degree or MBA 37.9%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 6.7%

Factory Automation Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Factory Automation Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$91,300
Average $97,908/year
$105,633
$7,608
Average $8,159/month
$8,803
$1,756
Average $1,883/week
$2,031
$44
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $105,633 $8,803 $2,031 $51
Average $97,908 $8,159 $1,883 $47
25th Percentile $91,300 $7,608 $1,756 $44

Most common benefits for Factory Automation Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Factory Automation Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Factory Automation Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Factory Automation Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Factory Automation Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Blue Star Partners LLC | Columbus, OH

    Blue Star Partners LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title: Senior Tosca Automation Engineer. Location. Columbus, OH (Hybrid – Onsite Tuesday–Thursday). Contract Type. 1-... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Calance US | Columbus, OH

    Calance US | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. We are hiring Mac OS Cloud Software Automation Engineer- Onsite for a Contract position in Columbus, OH. Responsibilities... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Corporate One FCU | Columbus, OH

    Corporate One FCU | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Location: . Candidates in the Columbus, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida area are preferred. remote employment is also poss... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Blue Star Partners LLC | Columbus, OH

    Blue Star Partners LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title. Sr. Quality Engineer - Performance & Automation (Contract). Location. Columbus, OH. Work Model. Hybrid preferr... more

    7 Days Ago

  • AROMAIR | Columbus, OH

    AROMAIR | Columbus, OH

    Warehouse Associate - New Albany. At Job&Talent, we are recruiting for a Warehouse Associate to work with Aromair in New Albany. This role involves managin... more

    5 Days Ago

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Factory Automation Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Factory Automation Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Factory Automation Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst