Junior Automation Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Junior Automation Engineer make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Automation Engineer in the United States is $65,213 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,945
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,413 to $70,830
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $52,222

Key Factors That Influence Junior Automation Engineer Salaries

A Junior 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 Junior Automation Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior 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): $65,685
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,158
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,346
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,815
  • Expert (over 8 years): $144,409
Levels Salary
Junior Au... Level Junior Automation Engineer$65,685
Contracts... Level Junior Automation Engineer$79,158
Contracts... Level Junior Automation Engineer$101,346
Contracts... Level Junior Automation Engineer$117,815
Contracts... Level Junior Automation Engineer$144,409

Top Paying Cities for Junior Automation Engineers

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: $82,253
  • San Francisco: $81,352
  • Oakland: $79,638

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Automation Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.25% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • RFP (Mentioned in 2.59% Job Postings): A request for proposal (RFP) is a business document that announces a project, describes it, and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it.
  • Federal Acquisition Regulations (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.25%
RFP 2.59%
Federal Acquisition Regulations 1.87%

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 Junior Automation Engineer's salary.

  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Government Contracting: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Development $69,777
7%
Government Contracting $69,125
6%
Program Management $69,125
6%

Junior Automation Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Junior Automation Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Telecom sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Junior Automation Engineer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Junior Automation Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Junior Automation Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$81,516$39.025%
Telecom$78,255$38.020%
Pharmaceuticals$76,951$37.018%
Energy & Utilities$74,994$36.015%
Internet$73,038$35.012%

How Education impacts a Junior Automation Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior Automation Engineers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Junior Automation Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,571 and $69,131).

Junior Automation Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Automation Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 10.7%
Associates 13.2%
Bachelors 54.8%
Masters 11.2%
Doctorate 9.5%

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

Understanding how a Junior 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.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$58,413
Average $65,213/year
$70,830
$4,868
Average $5,434/month
$5,903
$1,123
Average $1,254/week
$1,362
$28
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $70,830 $5,903 $1,362 $34
Average $65,213 $5,434 $1,254 $31
25th Percentile $58,413 $4,868 $1,123 $28

Most common benefits for Junior Automation Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Junior Automation Engineer

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

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FAQ about Junior Automation Engineer

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior Automation Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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.

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