How much does a Automation Engineer I make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Automation Engineer I in the United States is $92,540 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.
However, a Automation Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,716
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $85,720 to $98,390
Key Factors That Influence Automation Engineer I Salaries
A Automation Engineer I'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, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Automation Engineer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Automation Engineer I'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:
Automation Engineer I (0-2 years): $92,537
Control Systems Engineer II (2-4 years): $107,480
Control Systems Engineer III (4-7 years): $122,178
Control Systems Engineer IV (7+ years): $149,471
Automation Engineer V (7-10 years): $164,437
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Automation Engineer I
0-2 years
$92,537
Control Systems Engineer II
2-4 years
$107,480
Control Systems Engineer III
4-7 years
$122,178
Control Systems Engineer IV
7+ years
$149,471
Automation Engineer V
7-10 years
$164,437
$92,537Automatio...
$107,480Control S...
$122,178Control S...
$149,471Control S...
$164,437Automatio...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Automation Engineer I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Automation Engineer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $116,720
San Francisco: $115,440
Oakland: $113,010
San Jose, CA$116,720
San Francisco, CA$115,440
Oakland, CA$113,010
New York, NY$106,550
Paramus, NJ$105,260
Queens Village, NY$105,250
Passaic, NJ$105,160
Bergenfield, NJ$105,150
Stamford, CT$104,950
Huntington, NY$104,910
Newark, NJ$104,230
Bridgeport, CT$104,030
Vallejo, CA$103,850
New Brunswick, NJ$103,810
Petaluma, CA$103,760
Middlesex, NJ$103,580
Somerset, NJ$103,520
Santa Cruz, CA$103,400
Boston, MA$102,830
Monterey, CA$102,510
Seattle, WA$102,300
Santa Rosa, CA$102,280
Los Angeles, CA$102,250
Juneau, AK$102,010
Washington, DC$101,910
Orange, CA$101,580
Santa Ana, CA$101,330
Long Beach, CA$101,240
Anaheim, CA$101,220
Anchorage, AK$101,180
Santa Maria, CA$100,900
Everett, WA$100,880
Danbury, CT$100,550
Bremerton, WA$100,430
Tacoma, WA$100,090
New Suffolk, NY$100,090
Sacramento, CA$100,070
Santa Barbara, CA$99,960
Trenton, NJ$99,860
San Diego, CA$99,860
Brockton, MA$99,760
Fairbanks, AK$99,530
Lompoc, CA$99,300
Lowell, MA$99,220
Ventura, CA$99,200
Nashua, NH$99,190
Stockton, CA$99,180
Modesto, CA$98,500
Poughkeepsie, NY$98,300
Olympia, WA$98,120
Kennewick, WA$98,120
New Haven, CT$98,080
Lawrence, MA$97,750
Hartford, CT$97,660
Riverside, CA$97,640
New Bedford, MA$97,550
Richland, WA$97,550
Bakersfield, CA$97,420
San Bernardino, CA$97,380
New Britain, CT$97,370
Atlantic City, NJ$97,370
New London, CT$97,340
Norwich, CT$97,310
Portsmouth, NH$97,290
Boulder, CO$97,090
Portland, OR$96,970
Worcester, MA$96,960
Minneapolis, MN$96,670
Philadelphia, PA$96,540
Honolulu, HI$96,230
Saint Paul, MN$96,190
Vineland, NJ$96,170
Providence, RI$95,900
Chicago, IL$95,630
Bellingham, WA$95,520
Springfield, MA$95,450
Baltimore, MD$95,420
Chico, CA$95,190
Pittsfield, MA$94,940
Manchester, NH$94,760
Spokane, WA$94,360
Denver, CO$94,350
Albany, NY$93,910
Troy, NY$93,870
Nassau, NY$93,780
Schenectady, NY$93,680
Wilmington, DE$93,610
Burlington, VT$93,480
Salem, OR$93,440
Portland, ME$93,150
Yakima, WA$93,060
Rochester, MN$92,770
Reno, NV$92,730
Fresno, CA$92,730
Milwaukee, WI$92,640
Detroit, MI$92,550
Ann Arbor, MI$92,540
Allentown, PA$92,520
Colorado Springs, CO$92,370
Syracuse, NY$92,320
Carson City, NV$92,320
Houston, TX$92,190
Eugene, OR$92,140
Gary, IN$92,030
Springfield, OR$91,960
Bismarck, ND$91,940
Galveston, TX$91,880
Medford, OR$91,740
Fort Collins, CO$91,700
Concord, NH$91,650
Austin, TX$91,630
Mesa, AZ$91,430
Reading, PA$91,420
Phoenix, AZ$91,410
Dallas, TX$91,390
Saint Cloud, MN$91,300
Madison, WI$91,170
Utica, NY$90,920
Des Moines, IA$90,770
Rochester, NY$90,770
Raleigh, NC$90,760
Atlanta, GA$90,620
Battle Creek, MI$90,590
Salt Lake City, UT$90,560
Lancaster, PA$90,420
Harrisburg, PA$90,290
Kansas City, MO$90,200
Champaign, IL$90,180
Kansas City, KS$90,180
Fort Worth, TX$90,170
Columbus, OH$90,160
Boca Raton, FL$90,140
Pittsburgh, PA$90,100
Richmond, VA$90,060
Indianapolis, IN$90,040
Cleveland, OH$90,030
Las Vegas, NV$89,920
Cincinnati, OH$89,920
Petersburg, VA$89,780
Huntsville, AL$89,650
Lansing, MI$89,580
Lebanon, PA$89,570
Pueblo, CO$89,560
Appleton, WI$89,530
Buffalo, NY$89,500
Dayton, OH$89,470
Racine, WI$89,450
Charlotte, NC$89,440
Saint Louis, MO$89,410
York, PA$89,360
Elkhart, IN$89,360
Gastonia, NC$89,340
Billings, MT$89,320
Beaumont, TX$89,290
Lorain, OH$89,280
Benton Harbor, MI$89,260
Toledo, OH$89,240
Binghamton, NY$89,190
Rock Hill, SC$89,180
Rockford, IL$89,140
Springfield, IL$89,100
Elyria, OH$89,090
Fargo, ND$89,090
Flagstaff, AZ$89,030
Fort Lauderdale, FL$88,970
Duluth, MN$88,910
Miami, FL$88,910
Cheyenne, WY$88,850
Grand Forks, ND$88,850
Bangor, ME$88,650
Cedar Rapids, IA$88,540
Durham, NC$88,510
Louisville, KY$88,500
Grand Rapids, MI$88,480
Hialeah, FL$88,470
Casper, WY$88,340
Scranton, PA$88,230
New Orleans, LA$88,200
Virginia Beach, VA$88,190
Akron, OH$88,150
Peoria, IL$88,030
Sarasota, FL$88,010
Nashville, TN$87,940
Omaha, NE$87,940
Green Bay, WI$87,940
Baton Rouge, LA$87,900
Charleston, SC$87,880
Jamestown, NY$87,830
Davenport, IA$87,830
Tucson, AZ$87,790
Saint Petersburg, FL$87,730
Tampa, FL$87,710
Evansville, IN$87,660
Port Arthur, TX$87,660
Bradenton, FL$87,620
Santa Fe, NM$87,450
Orlando, FL$87,290
Clearwater, FL$87,260
Canton, OH$87,060
La Crosse, WI$87,060
Albuquerque, NM$87,010
Newport News, VA$87,000
High Point, NC$86,970
Ogden, UT$86,930
Corpus Christi, TX$86,860
Norfolk, VA$86,800
Laramie, WY$86,800
Rock Island, IL$86,750
Saginaw, MI$86,730
Jacksonville, FL$86,720
Salisbury, NC$86,700
Boise, ID$86,680
Moline, IL$86,640
Fort Myers, FL$86,610
Memphis, TN$86,590
Tulsa, OK$86,550
Waterloo, IA$86,490
Spartanburg, SC$86,400
Lincoln, NE$86,350
Fort Wayne, IN$86,330
Provo, UT$86,320
Cedar Falls, IA$86,210
San Antonio, TX$86,180
Greensboro, NC$86,140
South Bend, IN$86,130
Savannah, GA$86,030
Muskegon, MI$85,990
Birmingham, AL$85,980
Winston Salem, NC$85,940
Lake Charles, LA$85,710
Anderson, IN$85,690
Lexington, KY$85,670
Augusta, GA$85,640
Greenville, SC$85,640
Lima, OH$85,560
Wichita, KS$85,560
Tuscaloosa, AL$85,560
Columbia, SC$85,470
Springfield, OH$85,450
Asheville, NC$85,310
Bloomington, IN$85,240
Knoxville, TN$84,910
Shreveport, LA$84,900
Wilmington, NC$84,780
Roanoke, VA$84,780
Topeka, KS$84,610
Frankfort, KY$84,600
Oklahoma City, OK$84,540
Chillicothe, OH$84,500
Longview, TX$84,490
Melbourne, FL$84,480
Sioux Falls, SD$84,330
Mobile, AL$84,320
Terre Haute, IN$84,290
Altoona, PA$84,230
Amarillo, TX$84,170
Killeen, TX$84,140
Fayetteville, AR$84,070
Chattanooga, TN$84,040
Sioux City, IA$83,950
Idaho Falls, ID$83,940
Lynchburg, VA$83,860
Gainesville, FL$83,740
Portsmouth, OH$83,700
Little Rock, AR$83,680
Lafayette, LA$83,640
Youngstown, OH$83,640
Clarksville, TN$83,580
Daytona Beach, FL$83,580
Pensacola, FL$83,570
Temple, TX$83,560
Hopkinsville, KY$83,290
Erie, PA$83,270
Florence, SC$83,230
Charleston, WV$83,080
Great Falls, MT$83,040
Macon, GA$82,910
Tallahassee, FL$82,900
Fayetteville, NC$82,880
Waco, TX$82,860
Helena, MT$82,800
Pine Bluff, AR$82,760
Vincennes, IN$82,650
Lubbock, TX$82,610
Alamogordo, NM$82,560
Twin Falls, ID$82,470
Rapid City, SD$82,450
Jackson, MS$82,280
Greenville, MS$82,270
Huntington, WV$82,270
Parkersburg, WV$82,180
Montgomery, AL$82,160
Wichita Falls, TX$82,070
Springfield, MO$82,070
Biloxi, MS$82,020
Monroe, LA$81,930
Johnstown, PA$81,860
Sumter, SC$81,830
Columbus, GA$81,820
Pascagoula, MS$81,640
Abilene, TX$81,640
Kingsport, TN$81,400
Albany, GA$81,400
Gulfport, MS$81,370
Alexandria, LA$81,070
Fort Smith, AR$80,840
El Paso, TX$80,590
Las Cruces, NM$80,170
Harlingen, TX$79,930
Pocatello, ID$79,920
Florence, AL$79,800
Brownsville, TX$79,780
Mcallen, TX$79,590
Dothan, AL$79,460
Columbus, MS$78,910
Altus, OK$78,480
Lawton, OK$78,300
Pierre, SD$77,970
What Skills Can Increase a Automation Engineer I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 6.27% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Schematic (Mentioned in 2.53% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
Calibration (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Analysis
6.27%
Schematic
2.53%
Calibration
2.04%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Automation Engineer I's salary.
Algorithms: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Project Control: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
System Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Algorithms
$102,719
11%
Project Control
$101,794
10%
System Requirements
$101,794
10%
Systems Architecture
$100,869
9%
Computer Engineering
$99,943
8%
Flexibility
$99,943
8%
Get Latest Data
Automation Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Automation Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $103,858.
While startup companies pay approximate $87,947.
Automation Engineer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$87,947
Growth Stage
51~500
$92,985
Established
501~5000
$100,317
Enterprise
5000+
$103,858
Automation Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Automation Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average.
In contrast, Automation Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Automation Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Automation Engineer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$124,929
$60.0
35%
Biotechnology
$120,302
$58.0
30%
Software & Networking
$120,302
$58.0
30%
Energy & Utilities
$115,675
$56.0
25%
Aerospace & Defense
$111,048
$53.0
20%
Automation Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Automation Engineer I'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
$85,720
Average$92,540/year
$98,390
$7,143
Average$7,712/month
$8,199
$1,648
Average$1,780/week
$1,892
$41
Average$44/hour
$47
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$98,390
$8,199
$1,892
$47
Average
$92,540
$7,712
$1,780
$44
25th Percentile
$85,720
$7,143
$1,648
$41
Automation Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Automation Engineer I, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Automation Engineer I Salary Growth and Career Path
Salaries for a Automation Engineer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $75,326 in 2023
to around $74,320 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Automation Engineer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Automation Engineer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$75,326
2024
$74,893
2025
$74,320
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$75,326
2024
$74,893
2025
$74,320
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Automation Engineer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Automation Engineer I
Here are companies hiring for Automation Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Automation Engineer I
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Automation Engineer I?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Automation Engineer I roles,
with salaries approximately 35% 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.
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