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Hardware Development Engineer I Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Hardware Development Engineer I make in District of Columbia?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Development Engineer I in District of Columbia is $91,290 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Hardware Development Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,427
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,390 to $98,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,197
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View as table View as graph 25% $83,390 10% $76,197 90% $105,427 75% $98,690 $91,290 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Development Engineer I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $98,690 $8,224 $1,898 $47
Average $91,290 $7,608 $1,756 $44
25th Percentile $83,390 $6,949 $1,604 $40
Check out Hardware Development Engineer I Job Openings in District of Columbia
Hardware Installation Test Engineer

Astrion - Washington, DC

Senior Development Engineer

Constellation Energy - Washington, DC

Applications Engineer Learning&amp Development

Shield AI - Washington, DC

Business Process Engineer

ProSidian Consulting - Washington, DC

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Key Factors That Influence Hardware Development Engineer I Salaries

A Hardware Development Engineer I'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 Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Development Engineer I'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 I (0-2 years): $91,276
  • Hardware Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $109,123
  • Hardware Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $126,531
  • Hardware Design Engineer - Specialist (7+ years): $153,676
  • Hardware Design Engineer V (7-10 years): $181,407
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Development Engineer I0-2 years$91,276
Hardware Design Engineer II2-4 years$109,123
Hardware Design Engineer III4-7 years$126,531
Hardware Design Engineer - Specialist7+ years$153,676
Hardware Design Engineer V7-10 years$181,407
$91,276 Hardware ...
$109,123 Hardware ...
$126,531 Hardware ...
$153,676 Hardware ...
$181,407 Hardware ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Development Engineer Is

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:

  • Parcel Return Service: $90,790
  • Washington: $90,790
  • Naval Anacost Annex: $90,790

Hardware Development Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Hardware Development Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $102,194. While startup companies pay approximate $86,454.

Hardware Development Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$86,454
Growth Stage51~500$91,435
Established501~5000$98,686
Enterprise5000+$102,194

Hardware Development Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hardware Development Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Hardware Development Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Development Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Development Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$109,548$53.020%
Financial Services$107,722$52.018%
Business Services$100,419$48.010%
Healthcare$100,419$48.010%
Pharmaceuticals$100,419$48.010%

Hardware Development Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hardware Development Engineer I'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.

  • Yearly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Hourly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$83,390
Average $91,290/year
$98,690
$6,949
Average $7,608/month
$8,224
$1,604
Average $1,756/week
$1,898
$40
Average $44/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $98,690 $8,224 $1,898 $47
Average $91,290 $7,608 $1,756 $44
25th Percentile $83,390 $6,949 $1,604 $40

Hardware Development Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Hardware Development Engineer I
Hardware Design Engineer II
Hardware Design Engineer III

For a Hardware Development Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Hardware Design Engineer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $109,200 - a projected growth of 20% over your current level.

Salaries of jobs related to Hardware Development Engineer I

Find Your Next Hardware Development Engineer I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hardware Development Engineer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Logistic Services Int.

    JACKSONVILLE, FL

    HARDWARE TECHNICIAN II

    Logistic Services Int. | JACKSONVILLE, FL

    Req ID: 542 Job Title: HARDWARE TECHNICIAN II Location: Jacksonville, FL, US 32221 Job Type: Full-Time Education: High School Diploma / GED Travel: Up to 1... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc.

    TIMES SQUARE, WA

    Sr Hardware Development Engineer CPU and Memory Performance Team

    Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. | TIMES SQUARE, WA

    AWS EC2 owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS server instances. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We sup... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc.

    REDMOND, WA

    Senior Software Development Engineer Aurora PostgreSQL

    Amazon Development Center U.S., Inc. | REDMOND, WA

    Are you interested in building hyper-scale database services in the cloud. Do you want to revolutionize the way databases are built for the cloud. Do you w... more

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  • Raytheon

    LOS ANGELES, CA

    Manufacturing Development Engineer II

    Raytheon | LOS ANGELES, CA

    Date Posted. 2026-06-25. Country. United States of America. Location. US-AZ-TUCSON-801 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG 801 (External Site). Position Role Type. ... more

    12 Days Ago

  • SimVentions, Inc

    LA PLATA, MD

    Hardware Engineer

    SimVentions, Inc | LA PLATA, MD

    SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company, is seeking a Hardware Engineer to design, develop, and test hardware for complex defense... more

    5 Days Ago

  • SimVentions, Inc

    PORT TOBACCO, MD

    Hardware Engineer

    SimVentions, Inc | PORT TOBACCO, MD

    SimVentions, Inc., a mission-focused technology solutions company, is seeking a Hardware Engineer to design, develop, and test hardware for complex defense... more

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