Robotics Engineers
Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
AI Impact Summary
Robotics Engineers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 41% of all analyzed occupations. Of 24 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Robotics Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Machine Learning Specialization
by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Systems Thinking In Practice
by The Open University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Design Patterns in C# and .NET
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
24 tasks analyzed
Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates.
Process or interpret signals or sensor data.
Debug robotics programs.
Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications.
Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters.
Provide technical support for robotic systems.
Design end-of-arm tooling.
Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.
Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers.
Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.
Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities.
Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems.
Integrate robotics with peripherals, such as welders, controllers, or other equipment.
Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes.
Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots.
Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of robotic mechanisms, components, or systems, such as planetary rovers, multiple mobile robots, reconfigurable robots, or man-machine interactions.
Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes.
Design automated robotic systems to increase production volume or precision in high-throughput operations, such as automated ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis or sorting, moving, or stacking production materials.
Design or program robotics systems for environmental clean-up applications to minimize human exposure to toxic or hazardous materials or to improve the quality or speed of clean-up operations.
Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications.
Plan mobile robot paths and teach path plans to robots.
Make system device lists or event timing charts.
Design robotics applications for manufacturers of green products, such as wind turbines or solar panels, to increase production time, eliminate waste, or reduce costs.
Automate assays on laboratory robotics.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Process or interpret signals or sensor data. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Debug robotics programs. | 63.28Observed | 52.3% | 6% | |
| Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 6% | |
| Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 2% | |
| Provide technical support for robotic systems. | 63.78Observed | 40.5% | 4% | |
| Design end-of-arm tooling. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems. | 73.83Observed | 56.5% | 6% | |
| Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 4% | |
| Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing. | 68.38Observed | 54.4% | 6% | |
| Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 5% | |
| Integrate robotics with peripherals, such as welders, controllers, or other equipment. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 5% | |
| Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes. | 39.7Observed | 42.9% | 4% | |
| Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots. | 55.15Observed | 31.1% | 5% | |
| Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of robotic mechanisms, components, or systems, such as planetary rovers, multiple mobile robots, reconfigurable robots, or man-machine interactions. | 65.48Observed | 53.2% | 4% | |
| Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes. | 54.02Observed | 70.8% | 3% | |
| Design automated robotic systems to increase production volume or precision in high-throughput operations, such as automated ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis or sorting, moving, or stacking production materials. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Design or program robotics systems for environmental clean-up applications to minimize human exposure to toxic or hazardous materials or to improve the quality or speed of clean-up operations. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications. | 63.7Observed | 52.5% | 4% | |
| Plan mobile robot paths and teach path plans to robots. | 38.32Observed | 42.3% | 3% | |
| Make system device lists or event timing charts. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Design robotics applications for manufacturers of green products, such as wind turbines or solar panels, to increase production time, eliminate waste, or reduce costs. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Automate assays on laboratory robotics. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 35.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$117,750
per year
Mean Wage
$121,720
per year
Employment
151K
workers
Wage Range
$62,840 - $183,510
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
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Nuclear Engineers
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Logistics Engineers
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Manufacturing Engineers
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Photonics Engineers
33%Median salary: $117,750
Higher risk than 54% of other occupations
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
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Higher risk than 58% of other occupations
Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
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Higher risk than 65% of other occupations
Industrial Engineers
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Higher risk than 68% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Robotics Engineers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Programming
High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change