(Yicai) June 17 -- In the battle for specialist technical staff, Chinese robotics developers are offering annual salaries in the six‑ or even seven‑figure Chinese yuan range.

Including cash, equity, and stock options, core technical staff at leading firms can command annual pay packages of around CNY1 million (USD139,280), a headhunter told Yicai. “It's quite normal for chief scientists in the robotics industry to earn CNY10 million (USD1.4 million) a year,” they noted.

The number of job openings in China’s robotics sector rose 6 percent in the five months ended May 31 from a year earlier, while the number of applicants jumped 32 percent, according to a report released by Zhilian Recruitment yesterday. The most in‑demand role, that of humanoid robot engineer, saw a 409 percent surge in listings and a 396 percent jump in applicants.

“Talent is the real moat of an enterprise,” said a senior executive at a Beijing-based robotics startup. “Whichever company secures the best talent pipeline and tiered team development will likely hold the advantage in future competition.”

Robotics requires a wide range of expertise in the mechanical, electronic, control systems, computing, sensors, and artificial intelligence fields among other areas, and employers place a premium on candidates with strong cross‑disciplinary skills, according to an industry insider.

“At present, there are substantial gaps in core research and development roles such as algorithm engineers, mechanical engineers, and software developers,” the person pointed out.

Companies are particularly keen on talent who not only understand algorithmic logic deeply but can also translate algorithms into engineering reality, the executive said. “We look for people who can grasp algorithmic principles, collaborate seamlessly with mechanical teams, and think like product managers,” he noted.

As humanoid robots move from laboratories into real-world uses, talent needs are shifting toward product development and deployment, the executive said. “Two years ago, we hired purely for algorithms, but now we value candidates who can turn algorithms into market‑ready products and understand on‑site customer needs.”

A robotics algorithm engineer gets paid an average of CNY31,512 (USD4,390) a month, while those with more than five years of experience can earn as much as CNY38,489, according to Zhilian Recruitment's report. Mechanical structure design engineers average CNY22,264 (USD3,100) a month.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev