What Is an RPA Developer?

Key takeaways

• An RPA developer is a professional who designs and develops software bots to automate repetitive tasks.

• RPA developer jobs entail analyzing data and identifying opportunities to automate business processes, coding and troubleshooting software when developing bots, and monitoring their performance after implementation.

• One way to showcases your RPA skills is to earn an RPA developer certification, which can help you gain experience with RPA platforms such as Automation Anywhere.

Credentials such as the UiPath Automation Developer Associate can help you build skills from the ground up as an RPA developer. Learn more about what an RPA developer does and how you can become one.

If you’re ready to get your start, consider beginning with a Google UX Design Professional Certificate. This beginner-friendly program offers an opportunity to learn in-demand skills, such as information architecture, design thinking, wireframing, design reviews, and more.

What is robotics process automation?

Robotics process automation, or RPA, uses software robots to automate tasks that humans once completed. The bots emulate human action but don’t possess human intelligence like some artificial intelligence (AI) tools do. As a result, RPA assists employees; it doesn’t replace them. Instead, it focuses on making repetitive tasks, such as data processing or customer service, more efficient, allowing human employees to focus on critical tasks requiring creativity and insight.

For example, human resources (HR) teams can benefit significantly from RPA. According to Deloitte, 50 percent of HR processes, including payroll, compensation, and benefits management, can be automated [1]. RPA can automate billing, insurance claims, and patient registration in health care organizations. A customer service bot for a retailer can answer questions 24 hours a day, allowing for faster response times and providing quick answers to common questions.

According to Grand View Research, the robotics process automation market will grow at a collective annual growth rate of 29 percent between 2026 and 2033 [2].

What is an RPA developer?

As an RPA developer, you’ll work on your organization’s software team to design, develop, and monitor software bots. While information technology (IT) and programming skills are essential, the position also requires strong business acumen. That’s because RPA developers work to identify problems impacting employee productivity, gather requirements from cross-departmental teams, and document the current task’s steps before developing the bot. Once you’ve created the bot, you’ll test, troubleshoot, and monitor its operation to ensure it’s replicating the once-human-run tasks as needed.

Organizations increasingly rely on software robots to automate repetitive, sometimes tedious tasks that human employees complete. In this case, optimized business efficiency begins with the RPA developer, who is responsible for identifying organizational challenges and determining what business processes can benefit from automation. The RPA developer plays a key role in streamlining an organization by improving its efficiency and reducing its costs.

What does an RPA developer do?

Many organizations are undergoing a digital transformation, a reorganization that emphasizes using tech at scale to reduce costs and improve productivity. As an RPA developer, you serve as a key player on a software development or IT team, helping organizations embrace emerging technologies like bots. You can assist an organization in its digital transformation by completing the following duties:

• Conduct process mining to analyze data and identify effective ways to automate current business processes.

• Design and code business software to develop the bot.

• Maintain clear documentation of all processes.

• Design an RPA ecosystem consisting of a user interface, an administrative dashboard, a training interface, and a server.

• Test and troubleshoot the bot, looking for errors in code and resolving them.

• Participate in user acceptance testing (UAT) after the bot’s implementation.

• Provide support and monitoring after bot development.

Essential skills for RPA developer jobs

Developing your RPA skills prepares you for a role in this growing field. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report, 73 percent of employers plan to accelerate their use of process and task automation, indicating the staggering growth of this sector [3]. Focus your education, training, and experience on developing these essential skills:

• Analysis and problem-solving skills: As an RPA developer, you’ll need to analyze the current business processes and develop a way to automate them to improve productivity.

• Technical skills: You’ll need knowledge of programming languages, including Python, C++, and Java, and experience using enterprise application software.

• Logical reasoning skills: Logical reasoning skills can help you as you develop a software robot. These skills include an understanding of if/then statements, loops, variables, and exceptions.

• Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills can help you as you document processes and explain the new software bot to end users.

• Knowledge of user experience (UX) principles: Understanding how the bot will interact with users is essential as you develop and refine it, so general UX skills are necessary.

• Experience with RPA tools: Previous experience with RPA tools, including UiPath, Blue Prism, and Microsoft Power Automate, can help you excel in this role.

RPA developer salary and job outlook

Robotics is an emerging field, with RPA jobs in demand. While the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t have RPA developer job outlook data, it does indicate a growing need for mechanical engineers, which includes robotics engineers. The BLS projects a job growth of 9 percent for mechanical engineers between 2024 and 2034, resulting in 18,100 new jobs every year [4].

As an RPA developer, you’ll enjoy a higher-than-average salary that may vary based on your experience. An RPA developer earns a median total pay of $114,000 annually [5]. Experience can also impact your salary. For example, a junior RPA developer earns a median total pay of $110,000, compared to a median total pay of $145,000 for a senior RPA developer [6, 7]. The aforementioned figures include base salary and additional pay. Consider the following salaries for roles closely related to RPA development:

• Software engineer – RPA: $169,000 [8]

• RPA architect: $177,000 [9]

• RPA analyst: $122,000 [10]

• Robotics engineer: $145,000 [11]

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of July 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Will AI replace RPA developers?

Rather than replacing RPA developers, AI enhances RPA processes by improving problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, thanks to its ability to replicate human learning. This makes it possible to automate a wider range of tasks, beyond typical rule-based tasks where you can normally see RPA, such as transaction processing or data entry.

How to become an RPA developer: RPA developer career path

As an RPA developer, you can work on the cutting edge of technology. The RPA industry continues to grow as intelligent automation becomes more popular. Blending RPA and AI, intelligent automation allows you to extract data, evolve business processes based on this data, and solve problems without human input. Discover how to begin your career in RPA and the emerging field of intelligent automation.

Education and training

Earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, or a related field can put you on the path to becoming an RPA developer. You can also build your knowledge and experience through other types of training. You’ll want to focus on key topics in RPA, such as intelligent automation, machine learning, and AI. Learning a programming language can also be helpful to prepare yourself for a career as an RPA developer. Online courses can help you build the skills necessary to excel in the field. Consider these options:

• Python for Data Science, AI, and Development

• Introduction to Machine Learning

• Introduction to Data Analytics

Read more: How to Learn Robotics: A Guide

Get an RPA developer certification.

Because RPA is a new and evolving field, staying on top of industry trends is important to help you understand the essentials of business automation. Various RPA certifications are available, with many focusing on a specific RPA platform, such as UiPath or Automation Anywhere.

You can diversify your RPA knowledge or focus your skills by choosing one of the following certifications:

• UiPath Automation Developer Associate

• Essentials Automation Certification

• Microsoft Certified: Power Automate RPA Developer Associate

• Blue Prism Associate Developer

Explore our free resources for RPA developers

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for job-search tips and updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Then, check out some of our other free resources to help you build relevant skills for RPA development.

• Watch on YouTube: How to Work in Healthcare Robotics

• Take the quiz: Which Python Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute

• Gain expert insights: Bots & Blueprints: 6 Questions with a Software Architect and AI Developer

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.