ROI & Rate Calculator

Automation Rate & Cost Calculator

Estimate hourly rates for robot programmers, PLC programmers and controls engineers — and see how much you save versus building the same project in-house.

Quick Answer

How much does an industrial automation contractor cost per hour?

Industrial automation specialists — robot programmers, PLC programmers and controls engineers — typically bill $88–$98/hr for base work (≤40 hrs/week), with overtime (41–60 hrs/week) at about 1.3× base and Sunday/holiday or 61+ hrs/week at about 1.6× base. Staffing automation work through Automate America usually saves around 40% versus an in-house program. Use the calculator below to estimate rates and savings for your project; each professional sets their own rate.

Your Project

Your Project Savings

Manufacturer In-House Cost$136,678
Automate America Cost$80,640
Your Projected Savings$56,038
(41% reduction)
Time Savings1 week faster

Suggested Hourly Rates

Base Rate (≤40 hrs/week)$96.00/hr
Overtime Rate (41–60 hrs/week)$124.80/hr
Sunday/Holiday Rate (61+ hrs/week)$153.60/hr

Estimates only. Suggested rates reflect typical market pay for the selected discipline and location; professionals set their own rates on their profiles. Savings compare a typical in-house/manufacturer program cost to staffing the same work through Automate America.

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How automation rates work

Hourly rates for industrial automation depend on the discipline (robot programming, PLC programming, controls engineering, machine tending, vision, palletizing and more), the location, and the experience of the professional. On Automate America, professionals set the rate they want to be paid — this calculator gives you a realistic market estimate to plan a budget.

Overtime & holiday rates

Overtime (41–60 hours per week) is estimated at 1.3× the base rate, and Sunday/holiday or 61+ hours per week at 1.6× the base rate. These multipliers are typical for skilled contract automation work across U.S. manufacturing regions.

Savings vs. building in-house

Companies typically save around 40% versus a traditional in-house or manufacturer-led program by staffing through Automate America, with faster mobilization. Enter your project type, duration, hours and team size above to estimate your savings.