Want to know what manufacturing and automation technicians actually earn across the United States in 2026? You’re in the right place.
The manufacturing and automation technician salary by state ranges from $42,000 to well over $80,000 annually — depending on your location, certifications, and experience level. The median annual wage for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians — the BLS category most aligned with automation roles — was $70,760 in May 2024, and that number is growing.
This Article explains and provides information on each state’s salary structure for Manufacturing and automation, with real 2026 salary data by state, experience level, and work setting. Moreover, we’ll show you exactly how PTTI’s manufacturing and automation program in Philadelphia gets you trained and hired fast.
Explore PTTI’s Manufacturing and Automation Program →
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract manufacturing technicians. Therefore, where you work matters as much as how long you’ve worked. Here’s the full state-by-state breakdown based on current 2026 data:
Jist if all High-Paying States ($55,000–$61,000+ Annual Average)
| State | Hourly Rate (Avg.) | Annual Salary (Avg.) |
| District of Columbia | $29.24 | $60,820 |
| California | $29.13 | $60,590 |
| Massachusetts | $28.74 | $59,782 |
| Washington | $28.63 | $59,563 |
| New Jersey | $28.63 | $59,541 |
| Alaska | $28.59 | $59,464 |
| Connecticut | $28.22 | $58,706 |
| New York | $28.07 | $58,398 |
| Hawaii | $27.60 | $57,415 |
| Rhode Island | $27.38 | $56,953 |
| Maryland | $27.23 | $56,640 |
| Minnesota | $27.02 | $56,212 |
| Colorado | $26.94 | $56,047 |
| Illinois | $26.92 | $55,992 |
| Oregon | $26.82 | $55,783 |
| Delaware | $26.74 | $55,629 |
| New Hampshire | $26.70 | $55,533 |
Mid-Range States ($52,000–$55,000 Annual Average)
| State | Hourly Rate (Avg.) | Annual Salary (Avg.) |
| Virginia | $26.59 | $55,316 |
| Pennsylvania | $26.29 | $54,685 |
| Nevada | $26.14 | $54,366 |
| North Dakota | $26.09 | $54,262 |
| Michigan | $26.01 | $54,097 |
| Wisconsin | $25.98 | $54,036 |
| Vermont | $25.92 | $53,916 |
| Texas | $25.76 | $53,580 |
| Maine | $25.75 | $53,559 |
| Arizona | $25.73 | $53,526 |
| Ohio | $25.71 | $53,487 |
| Georgia | $25.47 | $52,982 |
| Indiana | $25.35 | $52,729 |
| Wyoming | $25.33 | $52,680 |
| Utah | $25.29 | $52,603 |
Lower-Paying States (Below $52,000 Annual Average)
| State | Hourly Rate (Avg.) | Annual Salary (Avg.) |
| Kansas | $24.90 | $51,800 |
| Iowa | $24.62 | $51,200 |
| Nebraska | $24.42 | $50,800 |
| Missouri | $24.23 | $50,400 |
| South Carolina | $23.85 | $49,600 |
| Tennessee | $23.66 | $49,200 |
| North Carolina | $23.46 | $48,800 |
| Florida | $23.17 | $48,200 |
| Kentucky | $22.98 | $47,800 |
| Oklahoma | $22.79 | $47,400 |
| Alabama | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| Arkansas | $22.21 | $46,200 |
| Mississippi | $21.73 | $45,200 |
| West Virginia | $21.44 | $44,600 |
| Louisiana | $21.25 | $44,200 |
As per data provided by:
As of June 01, 2026, the data gathered here indicate that the average salary for a Manufacturing Technician in the United States is $57,932 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26. However, salary experience also relies on nationwide.
Automation technician pay by experience level, which grows steadily and meaningfully as you build skills, certifications, and specializations. Here’s how it breaks down practically:
Entry-Level Technicians (0–2 years): $42,000–$50,000 annually
Mid-Level Technicians (2–5 years): $53,000–$65,000 annually
Experienced Technicians (5–8 years): $65,000–$78,000 annually
Senior/Specialist Technicians (8+ years): $78,000–$92,000+ annually
Where you work matters almost as much as where you live. The most persistent salary increases through 2026 are expected in CNC programmers, automation technicians, quality engineers in precision manufacturing, and plant-level managers, driven by the combination of baby boomer retirements and capital investment in smart manufacturing.
These sectors pay the highest in the field. Transportation equipment manufacturing — automotive, aerospace, rail pays a mean salary of $83,740 and employs roughly 1,400 mechatronics techs nationally.
These facilities run complex automated systems and pay accordingly. Moreover, demand in this sector is growing fast as domestic chip production expands.
It is lower-paying than tech-adjacent manufacturing, but it offers consistent work and steady hiring demand.
The Pharma Manufacturing Technician role averages $58,767 nationally, with higher pay in biotech-heavy states like Massachusetts and California.
The highest-paying industry for a mechatronics technician is utilities, with a mean annual wage of $111,920 per BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Unionized production workers tend to earn 15–20% more than their non-union counterparts in similar roles, plus stronger pension and health benefits.
Yes, the manufacturing and automation industries are rising. More than one-third of manufacturing executives cite workforce skills as their top talent concern as investment accelerates in automation, analytics, and smart manufacturing suggesting that premium pay for technically skilled workers will continue to grow. The manufacturing technician job outlook 2026 is strong for several specific reasons:
Furthermore, automation isn’t replacing these jobs. It’s creating more of them. Every new automated system needs a trained technician to install, maintain, and repair it. That demand isn’t going anywhere.
| Career | Training Length | Avg. Annual Salary | Job Growth |
| Manufacturing/Automation Tech | 12 months | $54,932–$70,760 | Strong through 2030 |
| Sterile Processing Tech | 8 months | $42,000–$52,969 | 15% (2033) |
| HVAC Technician | 12 months | $63,207 | 6% (2033) |
| Automotive Technician | 12 months | $49,670–$67,283 | 4% (2034) |
| Welder | 8–12 months | $51,000–$55,403 | 3% (2033) |
| Pipefitter | 6 months | $62,970–$70,000 | 6% (2033) |
Overall, manufacturing and automation technicians offer one of the strongest combinations of salary, growth, and a ceiling for specialization available in the skilled trades.
Becoming a manufacturing and automation technician doesn’t require a four-year engineering degree. It requires focused, hands-on training and PTTI’s program is built exactly for that.
The average manufacturing and automation technician earns $54,932 per year nationally as of 2026. However, the range is wide — from $42,000 for entry-level roles up to $70,760 median for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technicians per BLS data. Top earners with PLC certifications and 5+ years of experience regularly clear $80,000–$92,000 annually. In high-paying states like California, Massachusetts, and Washington, averages exceed $59,000 even at the baseline.
The District of Columbia, California, Massachusetts, Washington, and New Jersey lead the country — all averaging $59,000–$61,000 per year. These states combine strong industrial sectors, high cost-of-living adjustments, and active manufacturing investment. For geographic arbitrage, working in New Jersey or Connecticut while living in Pennsylvania or New York captures premium wages without the highest cost-of-living burden.
PLC certifications — particularly Rockwell Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and Siemens SMSCP — deliver the highest salary premium in the field. The PLC Controls Technician title averages $78,632 nationally. FANUC Robot certifications with 3+ years of experience push pay to $65,000–$82,000. The MSSC CPT credential is the strongest entry-level credential and is what most Philadelphia manufacturing employers list as preferred in their job postings.
PTTI’s 12-month Manufacturing and Automation program delivers 80% hands-on training covering electrical wiring, PLC basics, industrial safety, blueprint reading, robotics fundamentals, HMI operation, and preventive maintenance. Career Services support begins around 700 hours into training — before graduation — with resume writing, interview coaching, and direct connections to employers across Philadelphia’s manufacturing sector. Financial aid through FAFSA (school code: 042213) is available for qualifying students.
Yes — one of the best available in the skilled trades. The BLS projects continued strong demand through 2030, driven by baby boomer retirements and capital investment in smart manufacturing. Over 43% of manufacturers plan to increase hiring in the next 12 months. Automation creates new technical roles faster than it eliminates old ones — and every new automated system needs a trained technician to keep it running. Starting salaries of $42,000–$50,000 grow to $70,000–$92,000+ with certifications and experience.