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Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary in the United States

How much does a Hardware Design Engineering Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director in the United States is $236,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $114.

However, a Hardware Design Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $270,233
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $222,500 to $254,300
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $209,481
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Hardware Design Engineering Director Salaries

A Hardware Design Engineering Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hardware Design Engineering Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Design Engineering Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor (12+ years): $127,800
  • Hardware Design Engineering Manager (12+ years): $163,450
  • Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $192,449
  • Hardware Design Engineering Director (12+ years): $236,722
  • Hardware Design Engineering Senior Director (12+ years): $296,339
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor12+ years$127,800
Hardware Design Engineering Manager12+ years$163,450
Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$192,449
Hardware Design Engineering Director12+ years$236,722
Hardware Design Engineering Senior Director12+ years$296,339
View as Graph

How Do Hardware Design Engineering Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Hardware Design Engineering Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $262,100.
  • California: $261,200.
  • Massachusetts: $257,700.

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Design Engineering Directors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $298,600
  • San Francisco: $295,400
  • Oakland: $289,100

What Skills Can Increase a Hardware Design Engineering Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
  • Project Planning (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Project planning is part of project management, which relates to the use of schedules such as Gantt charts to plan and subsequently report progress within the project environment. Project planning can be done manually or by the use of project management software.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.45%
Logistics 3.45%
Project Planning 3.45%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Hardware Design Engineering Director's salary.

  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Supply Chain: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Vision $279,424
18%
Supply Chain $248,640
5%
Continuous Improvement $248,640
5%
Get Latest Data

Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Hardware Design Engineering Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $264,634. While startup companies pay approximate $223,853.

Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $223,853
Growth Stage 51~500 $236,747
Established 501~5000 $255,538
Enterprise 5000+ $264,634

Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hardware Design Engineering Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Hardware Design Engineering Director positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Design Engineering Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Design Engineering Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$307,840$148.030%
Biotechnology$296,000$142.025%
Internet$284,160$137.020%
Financial Services$272,320$131.015%
Insurance$272,320$131.015%

Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hardware Design Engineering Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$222,500
Average $236,800/year
$254,300
$18,542
Average $19,733/month
$21,192
$4,279
Average $4,554/week
$4,890
$107
Average $114/hour
$122
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $254,300 $21,192 $4,890 $122
Average $236,800 $19,733 $4,554 $114
25th Percentile $222,500 $18,542 $4,279 $107

Hardware Design Engineering Director Salary Growth & Career Path

Hardware Design Engineering Director

Next Role

For a Hardware Design Engineering Director, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Hardware Design Engineering Senior Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $296,400 - a projected growth of 25% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Hardware Design Engineering Director

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Hardware Design Engineering Director

Here are companies hiring for Hardware Design Engineering Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Hardware Design Engineering Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Hardware Design Engineering Director?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Hardware Design Engineering Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What is a good salary for an engineer in USA?

A good salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director in the USA ranges from $210,100 to $238,800 annually, with a midpoint of $224,600. This reflects the specialized skills and experience required for this role, positioning it above the average engineering salaries, which typically hover around $101,752.

3. What is the highest salary for a hardware design engineer?

The highest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director is $238,800. While salaries can vary, the minimum is $210,100 and the midpoint is $224,600. This reflects a competitive range for experienced professionals in the field.

4. What is the highest salary for a Hardware Engineer?

The highest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director is $238,800. The minimum salary starts at $210,100, while the mid-range salary is approximately $224,600. This range reflects the varying levels of experience and responsibility within the role.

5. What is the career path of a hardware engineer?

After gaining experience as a hardware engineer, professionals can progress into engineering specialty roles or into management and leadership positions like senior hardware engineer, hardware engineering project manager, or director of hardware engineering. The salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director typically ranges from $210,100 to $238,800, with a mid-salary of $224,600.

6. What is the highest salary for an IT director?

The highest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Director is $238,800 per year. This role typically offers a minimum salary of $210,100 and a mid-range salary of $224,600, reflecting the expertise and responsibilities associated with the position.

7. How much does a hardware design engineer make at Microsoft?

The total salary range for a Hardware Design Engineering Director at Microsoft is approximately $210K–$239K per year. This includes a minimum salary of $210,100, a mid-range salary of $224,600, and a maximum salary of $238,800, reflecting base salary and potential additional compensation.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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