China’s humanoid robotics industry is offering salaries well above the national urban average to attract skilled engineers and AI specialists.

A report by recruitment platform Zhaopin explains that the average monthly salary for humanoid robot algorithm engineers is 31,512 yuan (US$4,386). This amount increases to 38,489 yuan (US$5,388) for those with over five years of experience.

These salaries are more than three times the national urban average monthly salary of 10,058 yuan (US$1,400), according to Zhaopin’s third-quarter 2024 data.

Mechanical design engineers in the sector also earn competitive wages, averaging 22,264 yuan per month. This salary increase coincides with a hiring boom in the humanoid robotics industry. Job openings rose by 409% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025.

The demand for talent in humanoid robotics is driven by advancements in embodied intelligence and growing applications in smart manufacturing and elder care.

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🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Global AI talent crisis mirrors China’s humanoid robotics shortage

China’s humanoid robotics boom is part of a worldwide pattern of extreme talent scarcity in advanced AI and robotics fields.

The U.S. faces a projected shortage of nearly 700,000 qualified AI professionals by 2027, with global estimates indicating over 500,000 unfilled AI engineering positions by 2025 12.

This talent gap explains why China’s humanoid robotics companies are offering salaries nearly four times the national urban average, as they’re competing in a global market where demand far outstrips supply.

The shortage is particularly acute for specialized roles combining AI expertise with robotics knowledge, as these positions require years of advanced education and experience that educational systems worldwide haven’t scaled to meet 3.

Even established industry leaders like Unitree’s founder Wang Xingxing publicly acknowledge being “short on people across the board,” highlighting how this talent crunch affects companies regardless of their market position.

2️⃣ Premium salary trend for robotics specialists transcends national borders

The salary premium for humanoid robotics engineers in China (31,512 yuan or $4,386 monthly) follows an established global pattern of significantly higher compensation for specialized technical talent.

In the U.S., robotics engineers earn average salaries of $110,000 annually, with compensation for AI specialists reaching as high as US$250,000 for top roles 41.

The robotics engineering field has seen sustained salary growth, with compensation rising 37.78% since 2004 according to Recruiter.com data, reflecting persistent demand outpacing supply 5.

This premium compensation occurs across markets despite differing economic conditions. While China faces overall economic challenges and youth unemployment of 15.8%, the specialized robotics sector maintains its exceptional salary growth.

The pattern suggests that as China aims to capture 32.7% of the global humanoid robot market by 2029, competition for specialized talent will likely intensify further, potentially pushing salaries even higher for those with the right technical expertise.

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