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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 April 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): $181,076
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,100 to $172,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $139,810
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View as table View as graph 25% $151,100 10% $139,810 90% $181,076 75% $172,700 $163,500 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $172,700 $14,392 $3,321 $83
Average $163,500 $13,625 $3,144 $79
25th Percentile $151,100 $12,592 $2,906 $73
Check out Hardware Design Engineering Manager Job Openings in the United States
Section Manager

GE Aerospace - Cincinnati, OH

Regional Quality Manager

Meta Platforms - New Albany, OH

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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): $195,826
  • Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor (12+ years): $127,824
  • Hardware Design Engineering Manager (12+ years): $163,437
  • Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $192,387
  • Hardware Design Engineering Director (12+ years): $236,547
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Development Engineer VI10-12 years$195,826
Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor12+ years$127,824
Hardware Design Engineering Manager12+ years$163,437
Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$192,387
Hardware Design Engineering Director12+ years$236,547
$195,826 Hardware ...
$127,824 Hardware ...
$163,437 Hardware ...
$192,387 Hardware ...
$236,547 Hardware ...
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What Am I Worth?

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: $204,200
  • Oakland: $199,600

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 13.24%
Career Development 2.45%
Hardware Design 1.96%
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%
Product Lifecycle Management
$186,390
14%
Competitive Environment
$184,755
13%
Information Security
$183,120
12%
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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%
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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 April 01, 2026

Hardware Design Engineering Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

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 $192,400 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Hardware Design Engineering Manager

Salaries for a Hardware Design Engineering Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $163,659 in 2023 to around $161,528 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hardware Design Engineering Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Hardware Design Engineering Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$163,659
2024
$163,385
2025
$161,528
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $163,659
2024 $163,385
2025 $161,528
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Hardware Design Engineering Manager

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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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