Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware R&D Engineering Director in Colorado is $241,490 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $116.
However, a Hardware R&D Engineering Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI Onboarding
Hardware R&D Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $259,490 | $21,624 | $4,990 | $125 |
| Average | $241,490 | $20,124 | $4,644 | $116 |
| 25th Percentile | $226,990 | $18,916 | $4,365 | $109 |
Medtronic - Lafayette, CO
CesiumAstro - Westminster, CO
Haldren - Denver, CO
Industrial Pro Recruiting - Littleton, CO
A Hardware R&D 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware R&D 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware Design Engineering Supervisor | 12+ years | $130,398 |
| Hardware Design Engineering Manager | 12+ years | $166,765 |
| Hardware Design Engineering Senior Manager | 12+ years | $196,342 |
| Hardware R&D Engineering Director | 12+ years | $241,492 |
| Hardware Design Engineering Senior Director | 12+ years | $302,300 |
What Am I Worth?
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 R&D Engineering Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
Hardware R&D Engineering Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $270,334. While startup companies pay approximate $228,696.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $228,696 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $241,873 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $261,056 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $270,334 |
For Hardware R&D 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 R&D Engineering Director positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware R&D Engineering Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy & Utilities | $313,937 | $151.0 | 30% |
| Biotechnology | $301,862 | $145.0 | 25% |
| Internet | $289,788 | $139.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $277,714 | $134.0 | 15% |
| Insurance | $277,714 | $134.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Hardware R&D 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $259,490 | $21,624 | $4,990 | $125 |
| Average | $241,490 | $20,124 | $4,644 | $116 |
| 25th Percentile | $226,990 | $18,916 | $4,365 | $109 |
For a Hardware R&D 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 $302,300 - a projected growth of 25% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hardware R&D Engineering Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
The Peaks Resort & Spa
Telluride, CO
The Peaks Resort & Spa | Telluride, CO
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Position Summary. The Director of Engineering serves as the chief administrator of the property’s physical a... more
1 Day Ago
Crescent Hotels & Resorts LLC
Denver, CO
Crescent Hotels & Resorts LLC | Denver, CO
Job Description. Job Description. At Crescent Hotels & Resorts, we believe exceptional hotels begin with exceptional people. We are passionate about creati... more
2 Days Ago
Marriott International Inc
Snowmass Village, CO
Marriott International Inc | Snowmass Village, CO
Job DescriptionJOB SUMMARYProvides a high level of property maintenance knowledge. Position has overall responsibility for maintaining the building, ground... more
5 Days Ago
MWH Constructors
Broomfield, CO
MWH Constructors | Broomfield, CO
MWH is a leading water and wastewater treatment-focused general contractor in the US with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Fueled by the mis... more
5 Days Ago
Jetson Home
Centennial, CO
Jetson Home | Centennial, CO
Job Description. Job Description. About Jetson. Jetson is on a mission to accelerate the transition of 100 million homes across North America away from fos... more
4 Days Ago
Confidential
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Confidential | SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Managing Director, Engineering Fellow. About the Company. Dominating financial research & risk analytics advisory company. Industry. Financial Services. Ty... more
19 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
