Originally published at careersinrobotics.com/hiring-report with interactive charts.
Executive Summary
Market Snapshot: January 2026 | 2,724 active positions analyzed
Key Findings:
- 2,724 active robotics positions currently available across global markets
- California dominates US market with 33% of all American positions (544 jobs)
- Senior-level demand: Senior roles (30%) outnumber entry-level positions (11%) by nearly 3:1
- Onsite work requirement: 85.5% of positions require physical presence at facilities
- Software specialization premium: ML Engineers earn 2.8x more than Technicians despite 37% lower hiring volume
- Top hiring companies: NVIDIA (81 jobs) and Amazon (79 jobs) lead, but employ different strategies
- Python & C++: These two skills co-occur in 68% of positions mentioning either language
Report Scope: This analysis examines 2,724 active job postings as of January 2026 to establish a baseline understanding of robotics hiring patterns. Unlike our Robotics Salary Guide, which focuses on compensation, this report answers: Where are the jobs? Who's hiring? What skills do they need?
1. Hiring Volume Overview
The robotics job market shows robust activity with 2,724 active positions spanning 30+ countries. This represents current opportunities candidates can pursue today, establishing the first comprehensive baseline for tracking industry hiring trends.
Market Distribution:
| Region | Active Jobs | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1,640 | 60.2% |
| Canada | 135 | 5.0% |
| India | 132 | 4.8% |
| United Kingdom | 131 | 4.8% |
| Germany | 90 | 3.3% |
| Other International | 636 | 23.3% |
The US accounts for 60% of identified positions, but international markets contribute substantial volume. Major hubs include Canada (135 jobs), India (132), and the UK (131), reflecting the global nature of robotics development from autonomous vehicle testing in Singapore to industrial automation across Germany to research positions throughout Asia.
US Geographic Concentration:
Within the American market, California's dominance is absolute. The state accounts for 544 jobs—33% of all US robotics positions and 20% of the global total we tracked. Texas ranks second with 153 jobs (9% of US market), followed by Massachusetts at 137 (8%). This concentration reflects California's dual advantages: Silicon Valley's autonomous vehicle ecosystem and the broader tech industry's robotics investments.
| State | Jobs | % of US Market |
|---|---|---|
| California | 544 | 33.2% |
| Texas | 153 | 9.3% |
| Massachusetts | 137 | 8.4% |
| Michigan | 98 | 6.0% |
| Washington | 68 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 49 | 3.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 49 | 3.0% |
| Illinois | 41 | 2.5% |
Work Arrangement Reality:
Robotics remains an overwhelmingly onsite discipline with 85.5% of positions requiring physical presence at facilities. Only 11.4% offer hybrid arrangements, and just 3.1% (85 jobs) are remote. This reflects the hardware-centric nature of the field—debugging robot arms, tuning perception systems, and commissioning industrial equipment require physical access to hardware. Even hybrid and remote positions often involve significant travel to customer sites, manufacturing facilities, or testing grounds rather than pure work-from-home arrangements.
Employment Types:
Permanent positions dominate at 86.4% of the market (2,354 jobs). Internships account for 9.4% (256 positions), indicating healthy investment in early-career talent development. Contract, temporary, and other flexible arrangements comprise under 4% combined—companies are building long-term teams rather than engaging temporary expertise.
2. Who's Hiring: Top Companies
NVIDIA and Amazon lead with 81 and 79 positions respectively, but their hiring strategies reveal dramatically different priorities. Company hiring patterns show clear specialization: some target AI researchers, others scale operations teams, and traditional manufacturers focus on field service and support.
Top 15 Companies by Volume:
| Company | Active Jobs | % of Market | Hiring Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | 81 | 3.0% | AI & Software Engineering |
| Amazon | 79 | 2.9% | Research & Operations Mix |
| ABB | 55 | 2.0% | Field Service & Integration |
| Anduril Industries | 49 | 1.8% | Product & Defense Systems |
| General Motors | 25 | 0.9% | Autonomous Vehicle Software |
| Rivian | 23 | 0.8% | EV Robotics & Automation |
| GE Vernova | 22 | 0.8% | Energy Systems & Controls |
| Applied Intuition | 21 | 0.8% | Simulation & Testing Tools |
| Toyota Research Institute | 20 | 0.7% | Autonomous Mobility Research |
| Qualcomm | 19 | 0.7% | Hardware & Embedded Systems |
| Analog Devices | 19 | 0.7% | Sensor & Component Design |
| KION Group | 19 | 0.7% | Warehouse Automation |
| Waymo | 19 | 0.7% | Self-Driving Technology |
| Shield AI | 18 | 0.7% | Defense AI & Autonomy |
| Hitachi | 18 | 0.7% | Industrial Automation |
Company Strategy Patterns:
NVIDIA (81 positions) targets AI infrastructure—nearly 70% of openings focus on ML Engineers (22%), Robotics Software Engineers (26%), and Research Scientists (21%). Their platform strategy means algorithmic improvements compound across all customers.
Amazon (79 positions) takes a full-stack approach: 20% Research Scientists, 17% Mechanical Engineers, and 17% Automation Technicians. This balances advancing warehouse robotics research with deploying systems across hundreds of fulfillment centers.
ABB (55 positions) reflects industrial maturity—31% Field Service Engineers and 20% Product Management. They're maintaining and expanding an installed robot base worldwide rather than pursuing breakthrough research.
Anduril Industries (49 jobs) prioritizes product delivery: 35% Product & Project Management, followed by Robotics Engineers (25%) and ML Engineers (20%). Defense customers need complete autonomous systems, not just algorithms.
The top 15 companies account for only 18% of total market volume. This indicates a healthy, competitive landscape—hundreds of employers hire 1-10 positions each. Opportunities span traditional manufacturers, defense contractors, startups, and established technology companies.
3. What They're Hiring For: Role Demand
The relationship between hiring volume and compensation reveals a critical market dynamic: high-volume roles don't necessarily pay well. Automation Technicians represent 16.5% of all openings but earn $70K median salary. Meanwhile, Motion Planning Engineers account for only 3.4% of positions yet command $209K — 3x the compensation despite being 4.8x less common.
Role Distribution with Compensation Context:
| Role | Jobs | % of Market | Median Salary | Salary Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automation & Robotics Technician | 449 | 16.5% | $69,923 | 33.4% |
| Robotics Engineer | 317 | 11.6% | $170,050 | 43.5% |
| Controls Engineer | 300 | 11.0% | $113,231 | 24.0% |
| Machine Learning Engineer | 281 | 10.3% | $197,500 | 43.4% |
| Robotics Product & Project Management | 273 | 10.0% | $182,250 | 39.2% |
| Field Service Engineer | 268 | 9.8% | $86,090 | 30.6% |
| Research Scientist | 230 | 8.4% | $171,500 | 45.2% |
| Systems & Integration Engineer | 228 | 8.4% | $150,000 | 38.6% |
| Robotics Leadership & Management | 213 | 7.8% | $205,000 | 42.7% |
| Robotics Software Engineer | 211 | 7.7% | $189,500 | 49.3% |
| Embedded Systems Engineer | 176 | 6.5% | $171,100 | 32.4% |
| Electrical Engineer | 135 | 5.0% | $167,132 | 25.2% |
| Motion Planning Engineer | 93 | 3.4% | $208,750 | 43.0% |
| Other Robotics Roles | 290 | 10.6% | Varies | — |
Salary coverage indicates percentage of jobs in each role that disclosed compensation data
The Volume-Value Mismatch:
Three distinct hiring patterns emerge:
High-volume, operations-focused roles (Technicians, Field Service, Controls Engineers) account for 37.3% of all openings but pay $70K-$113K. These positions scale linearly with physical deployments—each warehouse, factory, or service territory requires dedicated staff. Companies like ABB (31% Field Service) and Amazon (17% Technicians) drive volume in these categories.
Moderate-volume, specialist roles (ML Engineers, Software Engineers,Research Scientists) represent 26.4% of openings and pay $171K-$197K. These positions scale digitally—one ML engineer's perception model can serve thousands of robots. Companies like NVIDIA (69% in these roles) and GM (60% software-focused) concentrate hiring here.
Low-volume, premium roles (Motion Planning Engineers, Leadership) make up 11.2% of openings but command $205K-$209K. These represent either cutting-edge specializations (motion planning) or career apex positions (leadership) where supply constraints drive premiums.
The pattern reveals career track implications: entering through high-volume roles is easier (449 technician openings vs 93 motion planning openings), but the 3x compensation differential compounds significantly over a 30-year career. For detailed salary analysis by role, see our Robotics Salary Guide.
4. Industry Hiring Patterns
Industrial Manufacturing and Robotics Software & AI each account for 18% of hiring volume, yet pay dramatically differently—a 2.3x gap between their median salaries. Industry choice determines not just the type of work but the compensation floor—a pattern that holds even within identical job titles.
Industry Volume and Compensation:
| Industry | Jobs | % of Market | Median Salary | Salary Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robotics Software & AI | 492 | 18.1% | $195,000 | 42.9% |
| Industrial Manufacturing | 492 | 18.1% | $83,737 | 29.5% |
| Transportation & Autonomous Vehicles | 390 | 14.3% | $199,300 | 49.5% |
| Aerospace & Defense | 341 | 12.5% | $167,725 | 48.7% |
| System Integration | 256 | 9.4% | $107,500 | 24.6% |
| Logistics & Warehousing | 239 | 8.8% | $131,000 | 43.1% |
| Energy & Mining | 220 | 8.1% | $112,800 | 26.8% |
| Research & Academia | 176 | 6.5% | $103,085 | 42.0% |
| Automotive Manufacturing | 144 | 5.3% | $127,750 | 15.3% |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | 138 | 5.1% | $111,685 | 39.1% |
| Other Industries | 236 | 8.7% | Varies | — |
Other Industries includes Robotics Hardware, Food & Beverage, Construction & Agriculture, Consumer Robotics, and sectors with <100 jobs
Industry Strategic Profiles:
Premium-tier industries (Transportation/AV, Robotics Software/AI, Aerospace) account for 44.9% of jobs and pay $167K-$199K median. These sectors pursue innovation and technological advancement, competing for talent through aggressive compensation. Industrial-tier industries (Manufacturing, System Integration, Energy) represent 35.6% of jobs and pay $84K-$113K, focusing on proven technology deployment at scale. Specialized-tier industries (Healthcare, Academia, Logistics) comprise 19.5% of jobs with $103K-$131K compensation.
The 2.3x pay differential between Industrial Manufacturing ($84K) and Robotics Software/AI ($195K) persists even for identical job titles. Our Salary Guide analysis showed "Robotics Engineer" pays $185K in Software/AI versus $113K in Manufacturing—same title, 64% pay difference based solely on industry context.
5. Skills in Demand
Python appears in 33% of job postings, making it the most frequently mentioned skill. However, skills rarely appear in isolation—Python and C++ co-occur in 68% of jobs requiring either language. The market isn't hiring individual skills; it's hiring complete skill clusters that define career specializations.
Top Skills by Frequency:
| Skill | Mentions | % of Jobs | Primary Career Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python | 907 | 33.3% | Software/AI |
| C++ | 756 | 27.8% | Software/AI |
| PLC Programming | 663 | 24.3% | Controls/Industrial |
| Sensors & Instrumentation | 553 | 20.3% | Hardware/Embedded |
| Electrical Design | 546 | 20.0% | Controls/Industrial |
| Machine Learning | 541 | 19.9% | Software/AI |
| Software Engineering | 532 | 19.5% | Software/AI |
| HMI / SCADA | 512 | 18.8% | Controls/Industrial |
| Mentorship | 505 | 18.5% | Leadership |
| Simulation & Digital Twins | 490 | 18.0% | Software/Systems |
| Maintenance & Reliability | 471 | 17.3% | Operations |
| Commissioning | 467 | 17.1% | Integration |
| Technical Leadership | 463 | 17.0% | Leadership/Senior |
| Project Management | 457 | 16.8% | Management |
| Computer Vision | 430 | 15.8% | Software/AI |
| Embedded Systems | 420 | 15.4% | Hardware/Embedded |
| Industrial Robotics | 412 | 15.1% | Manufacturing |
| Autonomous Systems | 359 | 13.2% | Software/AV |
| Field Service | 339 | 12.4% | Operations |
| Regulatory Compliance | 314 | 11.5% | Systems/Safety |
Note: Skills represent mentions in job postings. Jobs often list multiple acceptable skill paths (e.g., "Python OR C++" or "Allen-Bradley OR Siemens"), so co-occurrence doesn't always mean simultaneous requirement.
Skill Clustering Patterns:
Two dominant career tracks emerge from skill co-occurrence analysis:
Software/AI Track: Jobs mentioning Python also frequently mention C++ (68%), Machine Learning (42%), and Computer Vision (29%). This cluster defines the software-heavy robotics career path—perception, planning, learning systems—that pays $189K-$210K median salaries. The tight clustering (68% Python-C++ co-occurrence) indicates employers expect the full stack, not individual skills.
Controls/Industrial Track: Jobs mentioning PLC Programming also frequently mention HMI/SCADA (58%), Electrical Design (48%), and Commissioning (38%). This cluster defines the industrial automation and controls career path that pays $109K-$113K median salaries.
The market isn't hiring Python developers or PLC programmers—it's hiring robotics software engineers (who need Python + C++ + ML + domain expertise) or controls engineers (who need PLC + HMI + Electrical + commissioning experience). Individual skill development without track context rarely opens career doors.
6. Experience Requirements
The robotics job market heavily targets mid-career and senior professionals. Among jobs with clear experience indicators, senior-level positions (30%) outnumber entry-level roles (11%) by nearly 3:1, while nearly two-thirds of positions (63%) require 3+ years of experience. This distribution reflects industry maturation—companies need experienced engineers to deliver production systems, not just researchers to explore possibilities.
Experience Level Distribution:
| Seniority Level | Jobs | % of Jobs with Seniority Data | % of Total Jobs | Typical Experience Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 215 | 10.7% | 7.9% | 0-1 years |
| Junior | 520 | 25.9% | 19.1% | 1-3 years |
| Mid | 399 | 19.9% | 14.6% | 3-5 years |
| Senior | 597 | 29.7% | 21.9% | 5-8 years |
| Lead+ | 279 | 13.9% | 10.2% | 8-12+ years |
Analysis based on 2,010 jobs with clear seniority indicators (73.8% of total). Seniority determined from combination of explicit job level, years of experience requirements, and role complexity.
Entry-Level Reality:
Among jobs with clear seniority data, entry-level positions (0-1 years) represent 10.7%, while junior roles (1-3 years) account for 25.9%. Combined, positions accessible to early-career engineers represent 36.6% of classified jobs. This creates a challenging environment for entry-level candidates, who compete for fewer openings relative to experienced engineers.
Entry-level roles (215 total) concentrate in Automation & Robotics Technicians (68 jobs, 31.6%), Robotics Engineers (31 jobs, 14.4%), and Machine Learning Engineers (21 jobs, 9.8%). Entry-level salaries range from $65,842 (Technician) to $138,000 (ML Engineer), reflecting the software-hardware compensation divide even at career entry.
Mid-Career Sweet Spot:
Among jobs with seniority data, the combined mid-level and senior bands (3-8 years experience) account for 49.6% of classified positions. This represents the market sweet spot where engineers have sufficient expertise to contribute independently but haven't yet priced themselves into lead/principal compensation brackets. Companies hiring at this level seek proven execution ability without requiring the deep specialization or leadership responsibilities of senior roles.
Senior Engineer Leverage:
Senior positions requiring 5-8 years account for 29.7% of classified jobs—the single largest seniority category. This strong demand for experienced engineers creates negotiating leverage for candidates with the right expertise. Combined with lead+ positions (13.9%), nearly 44% of jobs with seniority data target engineers with 5+ years of experience. Our Salary Guide showed senior roles command $193K median, with lead+ positions reaching $213K—premiums that reflect this tight supply-demand dynamic.
7. Market Outlook: 2026 Predictions
Based on current hiring patterns, several trends will likely shape the robotics job market through 2026:
Software specialization competition intensifies. ML Engineers and Motion Planning Engineers already represent only 10-13% of market volume while commanding $197K-$209K salaries. As more engineers recognize this premium, competition for these positions will increase, though the specialized nature of robotics applications maintains barriers to entry.
Geographic concentration persists. California's 33% share of US positions reflects fundamental advantages: autonomous vehicle testing infrastructure, venture capital concentration, and established robotics talent networks. The 3.5x job density advantage over the next-largest state isn't easily replicated.
Hardware skill gaps widen. Controls Engineers, Electrical Engineers, and Field Service Engineers face less competition (represent 25-30% of market) while universities produce fewer graduates in these specialties. Manufacturing expansion creates persistent demand, yet fewer students pursue these career tracks compared to software-focused programs.
Defense and industrial sectors diverge. Defense robotics (Anduril, Shield AI, Aerospace companies) increasingly competitive for talent due to higher compensation and cutting-edge technology focus. Traditional industrial manufacturing faces talent acquisition challenges—competing against higher-paying sectors while offering work some perceive as less exciting than autonomous vehicles or humanoid robots.
Methodology
Data Source:
This report analyzes 2,724 active robotics job postings as of January 2026, sourced from company career pages and applicant tracking systems. We track positions directly from employer websites rather than aggregating from third-party job boards, ensuring accuracy and eliminating duplicate listings.
Geographic Coverage:
Global analysis with detailed breakdowns for United States (1,640 jobs) and state-level data for locations with 20+ positions. International markets include Canada, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and 25+ additional countries.
Data Collection Period:
Positions analyzed represent active job openings as of January 5-8, 2026. "Active" status indicates positions currently accepting applications, excluding filled roles, expired postings, or listings marked as "on hold" by employers.
Role and Industry Classification:
Jobs classified across 18 role categories (Robotics Engineer, ML Engineer, Controls Engineer, etc.) and 14 industry sectors (Transportation/AV, Industrial Manufacturing, Aerospace, etc.) based on job descriptions, required skills, and employer business focus. Some positions appear in multiple categories when roles span specializations.
Skill Extraction:
Skills identified through natural language processing of job descriptions, requirements sections, and technical specifications. Skills mentioned in "required" and "preferred" sections both counted, as job postings often list alternative acceptable skill paths (e.g., "Python OR C++" or "Allen-Bradley OR Siemens"). Co-occurrence percentages indicate how frequently two skills appear in the same job posting, not whether both are simultaneously required.
Experience Level Determination:
Seniority levels (Entry, Junior, Mid, Senior, Lead+) determined from combination of: (1) explicit job level in title, (2) years of experience requirements, (3) role complexity and scope. Where experience ranges span multiple levels, positions classified by minimum requirement. Analysis covers 2,010 jobs (73.8% of total) with sufficient data for confident classification.
Salary Data:
Salary information included where available from job postings. Of 2,724 total positions, 1,008 (37.0%) disclosed compensation ranges. Median salaries calculated for roles and industries with minimum 20 jobs containing salary data. For comprehensive salary analysis, see our Robotics Salary Guide which examines compensation patterns in detail.
Sample Size Thresholds:
To ensure statistical reliability, we applied minimum sample requirements:
- Companies: Minimum 15 jobs for inclusion in detailed analysis
- Roles: Minimum 30 jobs for standalone reporting
- Industries: Minimum 100 jobs for detailed breakdown
- Skills: Minimum 200 mentions (7%+ of jobs) for primary analysis
- Geographic regions: Minimum 20 jobs per location
Categories below these thresholds grouped into "Other" categories or excluded from specific analyses while still counted in overall totals.
Important Limitations:
This analysis represents a point-in-time snapshot of advertised positions, not filled roles or actual workforce composition. Job posting volume doesn't necessarily correlate with hiring success—some positions remain open longer due to specialty requirements or location constraints. Salary data covers only 37% of positions; companies in certain industries or regions less likely to disclose compensation publicly.
International coverage skews toward English-language job postings and companies with accessible career pages. Some regions, particularly in Asia and Eastern Europe, may have lower representation than actual market activity.
Remote work classifications based on stated policy in job postings. Some "hybrid" positions involve substantial travel requirements to customer sites or field locations rather than pure office/home splits.
Data Freshness:
Position listings verified as active during January 1-6, 2026 data collection window. Job markets change rapidly—some positions may fill or expire shortly after analysis. We provide regular updates to track hiring trends over time.
Related Resources
Compare with compensation data: See our Robotics Salary Guide for detailed analysis of pay by role, industry, location, and skill set. While this Hiring Report shows where the jobs are, the Salary Guide reveals what they pay.
Explore current opportunities: Browse 2,700+ active robotics positions across all roles, industries, and locations. Filter by your target role, required skills, and location preferences.
Report compiled by James Dam, Founder of CareersInRobotics.com
Last updated: January 2026
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