State of the RPA Developer

Our 1st annual survey of 1510 RPA developers reveals how these developers are joining this field, what their week looks like and how they feel about this opportunity.  

Five years ago, if you told someone you wanted to go into Robotic Process Automation, you’d probably have gotten a blank stare and a “what’s that mean?”

Fast forward to today. RPA is now the fastest growing enterprise software in the world, according to Gartner. And RPA skills are among the most sought-after capabilities in the tech world, with LinkedIn projecting a 40% annual growth rate in postings for “RPA engineers” in its 2020 Emerging Jobs Report.  

If you’re an RPA professional, you’ve definitely landed in a very sweet spot. That said, it is a newly emerging industry, and many of you have told us that it’s difficult to get your arms around how your experience compares to that of your peers and how this role is evolving over time. We at UiPath set out to find out who RPA developers are— and what life is like for you today. We wanted to learn: 

  • Who is the profile of an RPA developer? 
  • What’s your educational and professional background and how did you come to RPA?
  • How satisfied are you with your job, your impact, and your career prospects?  What do you particularly like? 
  • Are there things you wish your employers would do to make you happier, more productive, and more fulfilled?

These are some of the areas we looked to shine a light on in this, the first-of-its-kind survey of RPA developers. We hope that the answers contained in the report that follows will, first and foremost, serve as a valuable resource for current and aspiring RPA professionals. And beyond that— we hope it will help CoE leaders, HR managers, and C-level executives better understand this emerging profession and the talented people who work within it.  

Thanks for exploring it with us!

Key Takeaways 

RPA activity is expanding, companies are hiring, and most of you think you’re in an important, impactful industry.


9 out of 10 say the RPA industry will expand significantly over next 5 years, and 70% say your own organization will hire more developers in the next year. 65% of you are seasoned tech professionals who’ve moved into RPA from related areas. 84% agree that your job as an RPA developer will have a positive impact on your next career move. 

Demographics 

There’s a lot of diversity in survey respondents in terms of geography, ethnicity, industry focus, and company type and size. But there were commonalities as well. You’re highly-educated and tech- and RPA-skilled. And, while most of you are relatively new to RPA, you’re likely to have years of other professional experience to draw on.