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Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager in the United States is $163,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $181,267
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,200 to $172,800
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $140,001
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salaries

A Hardware Design Engineering Manager'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Design Engineering Manager'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 Development Engineer VI (10-12 years): $195,808
  • 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
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Development Engineer VI10-12 years$195,808
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
View as Graph

How Do Hardware Design Engineering Manager 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 Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $181,000.
  • California: $180,300.
  • Massachusetts: $177,900.

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Design Engineering Managers

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: $206,200
  • San Francisco: $204,000
  • Oakland: $199,700

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 13.24% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Career Development (Mentioned in 2.45% Job Postings): Refers to the process an individual may undergo to evolve their occupational status. It is the process of making decisions for long term learning, to align personal needs of physical or psychological fulfillment with career advancement opportunities.
  • Hardware Design (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Hardware design may be viewed as algorithm, which considers all of the systems present and foreseeable requirements and arranges the necessary hardware components into a workable set of cleanly bounded subsystems with no more parts than are required.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 13.24%
Career Development 2.45%
Hardware Design 1.96%
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 Manager's salary.

  • Employee Health and Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Scope Management: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employee Health and Safety $191,295
17%
Negotiating $189,660
16%
Scope Management $189,660
16%
Get Latest Data

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

Hardware Design Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $182,718. While startup companies pay approximate $154,561.

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $154,561
Growth Stage 51~500 $163,464
Established 501~5000 $176,438
Enterprise 5000+ $182,718

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hardware Design Engineering Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 38% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Hardware Design Engineering Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Design Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$192,930$93.018%
Aerospace & Defense$183,120$88.012%
Energy & Utilities$179,850$86.010%
Financial Services$179,850$86.010%
Insurance$176,580$85.08%

How Education impacts a Hardware Design Engineering Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hardware Design Engineering Managers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $164,364 and $171,379).

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hardware Design Engineering Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.1%
High School 7.1%
Associates 3.6%
Bachelors 39.3%
Masters 42.9%
Doctorate 7.1%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Hardware Design Engineering Manager'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
$151,200
Average $163,500/year
$172,800
$12,600
Average $13,625/month
$14,400
$2,908
Average $3,144/week
$3,323
$73
Average $79/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $172,800 $14,400 $3,323 $83
Average $163,500 $13,625 $3,144 $79
25th Percentile $151,200 $12,600 $2,908 $73

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Hardware Design Engineering Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a Hardware Design Engineering Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $192,500 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Hardware Design Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for Hardware Design Engineering Manager

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

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FAQ about Hardware Design Engineering Manager

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

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Hardware Design Engineering Manager roles, with salaries approximately 18% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary for a design manager?

The highest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager is $186,100. The salary range for this position typically starts at a minimum of $159,200, with a mid-level salary of $171,400. This reflects the competitive compensation in the field of hardware design management.

3. Is engineering manager a good position?

Engineering management is a highly rewarding position, both in terms of impact and compensation. As a Hardware Design Engineering Manager, you can expect a salary ranging from $159,200 to $186,100, with a midpoint of $171,400. This role allows you to significantly influence the careers of your engineers, making a lasting difference in their professional lives.

4. What is the lowest salary for a hardware engineer?

The lowest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager is $159,200. The salary range for this position typically falls between $159,200 and $186,100, with a mid-salary of $171,400. This reflects the competitive compensation for professionals in this field.

5. Do hardware engineers make a lot of money?

Hardware Design Engineering Managers can earn substantial salaries, with a minimum of $159,200, a mid-range salary of $171,400, and a maximum of $186,100. This indicates that experienced professionals in this field can make significantly more than the average hardware engineer, reflecting the higher level of responsibility and expertise required for management roles.

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

The salary range for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager is between $159,200 and $186,100 per year, with a mid-salary of $171,400. This reflects the base salary without including additional compensation or bonuses.

7. Which designer gets highest salary?

The highest salary for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager ranges from $159,200 to $186,100, with a mid-salary of $171,400. While various design roles like UI Designer, Automotive Designer, and UX Designer are lucrative, the Hardware Design Engineering Manager position offers competitive compensation within this range.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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