Robotics Engineers
Architecture and Engineering Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 17-2199.08
Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.066
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.30
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Show 15 hidden tasks24 rated tasks · 19 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (79.2%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Provide technical support for robotic systems.17-2199.08 | 0.033035.3 | 0.013022.8 |
Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.17-2199.08 | 0.020121.5 | 0.011720.5 |
Debug robotics programs.17-2199.08 | 0.015116.1 | 0.017029.8 |
Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.17-2199.08 | 0.00838.9 | 0.00152.6 |
Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes.17-2199.08 | 0.00677.2 | 0.006611.6 |
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.17-2199.08 | 0.00353.7 | —0 |
Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications.17-2199.08 | 0.00293.1 | —0 |
Analyze and evaluate robotic systems or prototypes.17-2199.08 | 0.00252.7 | 0.00508.8 |
Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots.17-2199.08 | 0.00151.6 | 0.00223.9 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates.O*NET Task ID 16512 | 1.0 |
Make system device lists or event timing charts.O*NET Task ID 16513 | 1.0 |
Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes.O*NET Task ID 16514 | 1.0 |
Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications.O*NET Task ID 16515 | 1.0 |
Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters.O*NET Task ID 16516 | 1.0 |
Debug robotics programs.O*NET Task ID 16521 | 1.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 16525 | 1.0 |
Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.O*NET Task ID 16528 | 1.0 |
Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.O*NET Task ID 16530 | 1.0 |
Provide technical support for robotic systems.O*NET Task ID 16511 | 0.5 |
Process or interpret signals or sensor data.O*NET Task ID 16517 | 0.5 |
Plan mobile robot paths and teach path plans to robots.O*NET Task ID 16518 | 0.5 |
Design end-of-arm tooling.O*NET Task ID 16522 | 0.5 |
Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities.O*NET Task ID 16523 | 0.5 |
Automate assays on laboratory robotics.O*NET Task ID 16524 | 0.5 |
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.O*NET Task ID 16527 | 0.5 |
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.O*NET Task ID 19667 | 0.5 |
Design robotics applications for manufacturers of green products, such as wind turbines or solar panels, to increase production time, eliminate waste, or reduce costs.O*NET Task ID 19668 | 0.5 |
Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes.O*NET Task ID 21058 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers. | Core |
| Integrate robotics with peripherals, such as welders, controllers, or other equipment. | Core |
| Provide technical support for robotic systems. | Core |
| Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates. | Core |
| Make system device lists or event timing charts. | Core |
| Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes. | Core |
| Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications. | Core |
| Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters. | Core |
| Process or interpret signals or sensor data. | Core |
| Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems. | Core |
| Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots. | Core |
| Debug robotics programs. | Core |
| Design end-of-arm tooling. | Core |
| Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing. | Core |
| Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems. | Core |
| Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications. | Core |
| Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes. | Core |
| Plan mobile robot paths and teach path plans to robots. | Supplemental |
| Automate assays on laboratory robotics. | Supplemental |
| 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. | Supplemental |
| Design robotics applications for manufacturers of green products, such as wind turbines or solar panels, to increase production time, eliminate waste, or reduce costs. | Supplemental |
0.01/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Integrate robotics with peripherals, such as welders, controllers, or other equipment. | E0 none |
| Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems. | E0 none |
| Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots. | E0 none |
| Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications. | E0 none |
| Automate assays on laboratory robotics. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 17-2199 group (Engineers, all other), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 167K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 173K
- Change (2025–35)
- +3.7%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $122,930
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23520 | 로봇공학 기술자 및 연구원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2149Engineering Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group covers engineering professionals not classified elsewhere in Minor Group 214: Engineering Professionals (excluding Electrotechnology) or in Minor Group 215: Electrotechnology Engineers. For instance, the group includes those who conduct research and advise on or develop engineering procedures and solutions concerning workplace safety, biomedical engineering, optics, materials, nuclear power generation and explosives.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include -
- (a) applying knowledge of engineering to the design, development and evaluation of biological and health systems and products such as artificial organs, prostheses and instrumentation;
- (b) designing devices used in various medical procedures and imaging systems such as magnetic resonance imaging, and devices for automating insulin injections or controlling body functions;
- (c) designing components of optical instruments such as lenses, microscopes, telescopes, lasers, optical disc systems and other equipment that utilize the properties of light;
- (d) designing, testing, and coordinating the development of explosive ordnance material to meet military procurement specifications;
- (e) designing and overseeing construction and operation of nuclear reactors and power plants and nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems;
- (f) designing and developing nuclear equipment such as reactor cores, radiation shielding and associated instrumentation and control mechanisms;
- (g) assessing damage and providing calculations for marine salvage operations;
- (h) studying and advising on engineering aspects of particular manufacturing processes, such as those related to glass, ceramics, textiles, leather products, wood and printing;
- (i) identifying potential hazards and introducing safety procedures and devices.
Example occupations
Biomedical engineer · Explosive ordnance engineer · Marine salvage engineer · Materials engineer · Nuclear power generation engineer · Optical engineer · Quantity surveyor · Safety engineer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- robotics engineerESCO 2149.13Same scope
Robotics engineers design and develop robotic devices and applications in combination with mechanical engineering principles. They use pre-established designs and current developments for improving or inventing systems, machinery and equipment. They combine several knowledge fields such as computing, engineering, and electronics in the development of new engineering applications.
- automation engineerESCO 2141.3.2.1Overlapping, not the same
Automation engineers research, design, and develop applications and systems for the automation of the production process. They implement technology and reduce, whenever applicable, human input to reach the full potential of industrial robotics. Automation engineers oversee the process and ensure all systems run safely and smoothly.
- mechatronics engineerESCO 2144.1.11Overlapping, not the same
Mechatronics engineers design and develop intelligent systems, such as robotic devices, smart home appliances, and aeroplanes, through combining technologies from mechanical, electronic, computer, and control engineering. They create blueprints or design documents for parts, assemblies or finished products using software programs, and also oversee and manage projects.
- robotics engineering technicianESCO 3119.2.1Overlapping, not the same
Robotics engineering technicians collaborate with engineers in the development of robotic devices and applications through a combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and computer engineering. Robotics engineering technicians build, test, install and calibrate robotic equipment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H1206 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrie | This occupation is narrower |
| H1208 | Automaticien / Automaticienne en bureau d'études | Overlapping, not the same |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2433 | Ingenieros mecánicos | Related, not a match |
| 2442 | Ingenieros electrónicos | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 26124 | Berufe in der Automatisierungstechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 073 | 機械技術者（開発） | This occupation is narrower |
| 072 | 電気・電子・電気通信技術者（通信ネットワーク技術者を除く）（開発） | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources