Lab Automation Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Lab Automation Engineer make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lab Automation Engineer in the United States is $86,943 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $106,635
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,010 to $97,250
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,699

Key Factors That Influence Lab Automation Engineer Salaries

A Lab 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 Lab Automation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lab 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): $82,647
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $82,842
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,511
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $89,520
  • Expert (over 8 years): $89,806
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Lab Automation Engineer less than 1 year $82,647
Early Career Level Lab Automation Engineer 1-2 years $82,842
Mid-Level Level Lab Automation Engineer 2-4 years $85,511
Senior-Level Level Lab Automation Engineer 5-8 years $89,520
Expert Level Lab Automation Engineer over 8 years $89,806

Top Paying Cities for Lab 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: $109,661
  • San Francisco: $108,460
  • Oakland: $106,174

Lab Automation Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Lab Automation Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Lab Automation Engineer positions in Business Services or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lab Automation Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Lab Automation Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit $104,331 $50.0 20%
Construction $95,637 $46.0 10%

How Education impacts a Lab Automation Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lab 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 Lab Automation Engineer with a Bachelor's is between $88,493 and $92,467.

Lab Automation Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lab Automation Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 0.3%
High School 39.3%
Associate's Degree 0.3%
Bachelor's Degree 39.3%
Master's Degree or MBA 53.8%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 6.8%

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

Understanding how a Lab 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 August 01, 2026
$80,010
Average $86,943/year
$97,250
$6,668
Average $7,245/month
$8,104
$1,539
Average $1,672/week
$1,870
$38
Average $42/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $97,250 $8,104 $1,870 $47
Average $86,943 $7,245 $1,672 $42
25th Percentile $80,010 $6,668 $1,539 $38

Most common benefits for Lab Automation Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Lab Automation Engineer

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

Find Your Next Lab Automation Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lab 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

    9 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 possib... more

    9 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

    6 Days Ago

  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    17 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 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 Lab Automation Engineer

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

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Lab Automation Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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