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Is a Career in Robotics and Automation a Good Choice?

5/14/2024

Robotics and automation technicians are key in maintaining advanced manufacturing technologies.

If you’re interested in working in this industry, consider enrolling in the 12- to 18-month Robotics & Automation Technician program offered at six Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campus locations.1 While enrolled, students can train in the fundamentals of robotics and automation, earn a degree or diploma and prepare for careers in the field.6

However, you may still wonder if a career in robotics and automation is right for you.

Keep reading to get your answer. Here, we'll provide an overview of these industries, what it's like to be a technician in robotics and/or automation and how to get the necessary training to prepare for a career at UTI.

What Is Robotics and Automation?

Robotics is a branch of computer science and engineering that deals with the design and operation of robots. Robots are machines that can automatically carry out complex series of actions.

Automation is used in various industries, including robotic manufacturing, to complete production processes with minimal human intervention.

Read: UTI Admissions Requirements

Benefits of a Career in Robotics and Automation

Although robotics and automation are technically different sectors, they often overlap since automation technology is critical to robotics manufacturing. Technicians from both sectors are currently in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total employment of robotics technicians is expected to exceed 14,000 by 2032.73

Working in robotics and automation often requires creative problem-solving abilities and the ability to think outside the box. Robotics and automation technicians are also at the forefront of technological advancement, both in research and development. Their work is also critical in a variety of industries, including:

  • Healthcare: Sanitation, surgical and nursing robots, as well as robotic prosthetics    
  • Construction & manufacturing: Robotic arms, gantry robotics and welding robots    
  • Food preparation: Robotic dispensers and bartenders, as well as fully robotic kitchens    
  • Education: Educational robots and simulators    
  • Agriculture: Crop diagnostic, pesticide-spraying and data-gathering robots    
  • Military: Surveillance, explosive devices and sniper detection robots    

Robotics and Automation Career Outlook

So, is robotics and automation a good career? The BLS predicts 1,000+ average annual robotics and automation technician job openings in the U.S.67

The BLS also reported that the median annual salary for robotics and automation technicians in the United States was $65,080 in May 2023!59 This means that half earned more and the other half earned less. Remember that salary is affected by a variety of factors, including experience, employer, demand and the cost of living in the area.

How To Become a Robotics and Automation Technician?

If you want to train in the skills needed for a career path in robotics and automation, you should enroll in a trade school. But first, ensure you have a high school diploma or GED. This way, you can demonstrate that you have previously completed a structured curriculum, just as you would during vocational training.

Students in trade schools can receive practical instruction in controlled lab settings from experienced industry professionals, allowing them to develop skills in their chosen areas of study. This training frequently allows students to practice skills that are often required in real-world technician jobs.

For many technicians, a robotics and automation education program could take months or even years to complete. Fortunately, UTI’s Robotics & Automation Technician program takes only 12 to 18 months. Through this hands-on program, graduates can gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue entry-level jobs in their chosen industry through robotics and automation courses that cover topics such as:

  • Manufacturing Systems and Technology    
  • Applied Physics and Precision Measuring    
  • Industrial Robotics    
  • Industrial Networking    
  • Introductory Programming    

Keep in mind: automation is the core of our robotics and automation training program, and understanding automation is essential for maintaining and developing robotics technology!

This program is offered at six campuses – Canton, Michigan; Mooresville, North Carolina; Rancho Cucamonga, California; Lisle, Illinois; Exton, Pennsylvania; and Houston, Texas.

Robotics and Automation FAQ

Is it hard to get a robotics and automation job?

Pursuing a job as a robotics or automation technician can be difficult, but it is possible for those who have the right skills, education and training. Many employers require automation technicians to have formal hands-on training, whereas robotics technicians must understand both automation and robotics technology.

They should also have strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, attention to detail and the determination to improve through continual learning.

Pursue a Career in Robotics and Automation With UTI Training!

Modern manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and transportation industries often rely on robotics and automation technicians to increase the efficiency, quality and safety of industry practices. Students who get the proper training can pursue this career path and make a difference in advanced manufacturing processes!

Eager to pursue a career in robotics and automation? Sign up for technical training now to begin your educational journey! Visit our website to request more information or call an Admissions Representative at 1-800-834-7308.

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1 ) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2 ) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
6 ) UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
59 ) The Robotics & Automation program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as robotics & automation technicians. Estimated annual salary is for Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for graduates. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. Graduates’ achievements vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as robotics & automation technicians, such as control systems technicians and maintenance technicians. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary range for persons employed as Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians (17-3024) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $43,480 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2022 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageAllIndustries/OEWResult?A=01&GA=000025&OG=173024&Dopt=TEXT). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled robotics & automation technicians in North Carolina is $24.41 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $22.09 and $19.13, respectively.
67 ) For Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an annual average of 1,300 job openings between 2023 and 2033. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 4, 2024. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
73 ) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that total national employment for Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians will be 15,600 by 2033. See Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2023–33, and worker characteristics, 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 4, 2024. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

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