2026 Industrial Automation Salary Guide
Inside the Full Report
Covering the UK, DACH, and North American markets, across 6 key automation & robotics job roles, this guide provides insight into salary bands from junior to senior levels of experience.
Roles covered in the guide:
• Controls Engineer (PLC / Multi-Platform)
• SCADA / HMI Specialist
• OT Cybersecurity Engineer
• Robotics / Automation Engineer
• MES / IIoT Engineer
• Automation Systems Integrator
What is the Industrial Automation Salary Guide?
Collated by our Industrial Automation Talent Strategist, Charles Cureton, our industrial automation salary guide is a valuable resource for automation professionals and hiring managers alike. Featuring comprehensive salary benchmarks and hiring insights, we analyze salaries by region and seniority, providing nuanced, localized context to help organizations and professionals navigate the evolving automation talent market.
Our guide dives into six key industrial automation roles, from automation engineers to HMI specialists. For each position we examine market demand, factors contributing to above‑market remuneration and actionable hiring tips for both employers and candidates to support informed decision‑making across the industry.
2026 Industrial Automation Insights
6 Key Roles Covered
1) Controls Engineer (PLC/Multi-Platform)
2) SCADA/HMI Specialist
3) OT Cybersecurity Engineer
4) Robotics/Automation Engineer
5) MES/IIoT Engineer
6) Automation Systems Integrator
3 Key Regions Included
The salary benchmarks included in the report cover the DACH region, UK and USA - 3 key manufacturing hubs across the globe.
Insights & Tips
For each role in the guide, we've also provided insights and tips for hiring managers - about what to look out or when hiring each role - and for candidates - sharing what can help them stand out.
FAQs
Our industrial automation salary guide collates global metrics and market insights into a succinct, comprehensive resource for the wider automation industry. Here are some of the insights you can gain access to when you secure your free download:
Of the six roles covered in our salary guide, MES and IIOT Engineers are most in demand in 2026, as year-on-year demand rose by 29%, making successful hires critical in the current market.
Some of the skills and certifications that can help increase your automation salary include:
- • OT and ICS cybersecurity awareness
- • Ignition certifications
- • Experience with digital twinning
Globally, an automation engineer can make anything from £26,000 to $148,000 per year, depending on their location, experience and seniority. Note these salaries exclude benefits, bonus and equity rates, which may be negotiable.
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Alexander Daniels Global is Your Industry 4.0 Talent Partner
At Alexander Daniels Global, we have a simple vision: ‘To enable the 4th Industrial Revolution through talent.’ Through strategic support, consultation and partnership, you can trust our specialized recruitment consultants to identify, attract, engage and recruit high caliber professionals globally. We also work with talented individuals to source opportunities which will add value to their career.
Contact us to get started on your talent journey today.
Alexander Daniels Global is Your
Industry 4.0 Talent Partner
At Alexander Daniels Global, we have a simple vision: ‘To enable the 4th Industrial Revolution through talent.’ Through strategic support, consultation and partnership, you can trust our specialized recruitment consultants to identify, attract, engage and recruit high caliber professionals globally. We also work with talented individuals to source opportunities which will add value to their career.
Contact us to get started on your talent journey today.
