upper level job

Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager in the United States is $163,460 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $181,208
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $151,140 to $172,750
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $139,923

Key Factors That Influence Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salaries

A Hardware Development 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 Development Engineering Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Development 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): $195,805
  • Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor (12+ years): $127,795
  • Hardware Development Engineering Manager (12+ years): $163,452
  • Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $192,461
  • Hardware Design Engineering Director (12+ years): $236,756
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Development Engineer VI10-12 years$195,805
Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor12+ years$127,795
Hardware Development Engineering Manager12+ years$163,452
Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$192,461
Hardware Design Engineering Director12+ years$236,756

How Do Hardware Development 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 Development Engineering Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $180,980.
  • California: $180,290.
  • Massachusetts: $177,890.

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Development 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: $206,170
  • San Francisco: $203,910
  • Oakland: $199,610

What Skills Can Increase a Hardware Development 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%

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 Development 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 $191,248
17%
Negotiating $189,614
16%
Scope Management $189,614
16%

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

Hardware Development Engineering Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $182,486. While startup companies pay approximate $154,519.

Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $154,519
Growth Stage 51~500 $163,385
Established 501~5000 $176,205
Enterprise 5000+ $182,486

Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hardware Development 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 Development Engineering Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Development Engineering Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$192,883$93.018%
Aerospace & Defense$183,075$88.012%
Energy & Utilities$179,806$86.010%
Financial Services$179,806$86.010%
Insurance$176,537$85.08%

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

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hardware Development 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 Development Engineering Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $164,340 and $171,338).

Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hardware Development 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%

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

Understanding how a Hardware Development 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 October 01, 2026
$151,140
Average $163,460/year
$172,750
$12,595
Average $13,622/month
$14,396
$2,907
Average $3,143/week
$3,322
$73
Average $79/hour
$83
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $172,750 $14,396 $3,322 $83
Average $163,460 $13,622 $3,143 $79
25th Percentile $151,140 $12,595 $2,907 $73

Hardware Development Engineering Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Hardware Development 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 Development Engineering Manager

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

Common company salaries for Hardware Development Engineering Manager

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

Find Your Next Hardware Development Engineering Manager Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Hardware Development Engineering Manager

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

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

2. How much does a hardware developer earn in USA?

As of now, the salary for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager in the United States ranges from $159,200 to $186,090 annually, with a median salary of $171,310. This translates to approximately $76.50 to $89.49 per hour, or $13,267 to $15,507 monthly, reflecting the competitive compensation in this field.

3. Which engineering is highest paid in USA?

Among engineering roles, Hardware Development Engineering Managers are among the highest paid in the USA, with salaries ranging from $159,200 to $186,090, and a median salary of $171,310. Other high-paying engineering fields include Petroleum, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, but Hardware Development stands out for its competitive compensation.

4. How much does a development engineer earn in USA?

The estimated total pay for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager in the USA ranges from $159,200 to $186,090 per year, with a mid-salary of $171,310. These figures reflect the salary range for this role, providing a clear picture of potential earnings in the industry.

5. What is the highest Devops Engineer salary in us?

The highest salary for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager is approximately $186,090 per year, with a minimum of $159,200 and a midpoint of $171,310. This reflects the competitive compensation in the tech industry, particularly in high-demand areas.

6. How much does a hardware developer earn in USA?

How much does a Hardware Developer make? As of now, the salary for a Hardware Development Engineering Manager in the United States ranges from $159,200 to $186,090 annually, with a median salary of $171,310. This reflects the competitive compensation for professionals in this field.

7. What is the highest paying job in the world?

While CEO positions are often considered the highest paying jobs, a Hardware Development Engineering Manager also commands a significant salary, with a minimum of $159,200, a mid-range of $171,310, and a maximum of $186,090. This role involves overseeing hardware development projects, managing teams, and ensuring product quality, making it a lucrative career choice in the tech industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job