upper level job

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer in the United States is $161,210 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

However, a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $176,494
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $148,960 to $169,210
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $137,807

Key Factors That Influence Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salaries

A Specialist ASIC Design Engineer'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 Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer'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:

  • ASIC Design Engineer II (2-4 years): $102,229
  • ASIC Design Engineer III (4-7 years): $127,448
  • Specialist ASIC Design Engineer (7+ years): $161,207
  • ASIC Design Engineer Lead (7-10 years): $191,007
  • ASIC Design Engineering Manager (10+ years): $176,348
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
ASIC Design Engineer II2-4 years$102,229
ASIC Design Engineer III4-7 years$127,448
Specialist ASIC Design Engineer7+ years$161,207
ASIC Design Engineer Lead7-10 years$191,007
ASIC Design Engineering Manager10+ years$176,348

Top Paying Cities for Specialist ASIC Design Engineers

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: $203,340
  • San Francisco: $201,110
  • Oakland: $196,870

What Skills Can Increase a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 8.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Perl (Mentioned in 3.7% Job Postings): Perl is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language originally developed for text manipulation. It borrows many features from C and Shell script and is used for system administration, networking, and other applications that involve user interfaces
  • Performance Analysis (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Profiling (computer programming), the analysis of computer performance. In software engineering, profiling ("program profiling", "software profiling") is a form of dynamic program analysis that measures, for example, the space (memory) or time complexity of a program, the usage of particular instructions, or the frequency and duration of function calls. Most commonly, profiling information serves to aid program optimization. Profiling is achieved by instrumenting either the program source code or its binary executable form using a tool called a profiler (or code profiler). Profilers may use a number of different techniques, such as event-based, statistical, instrumented, and simulation methods.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 8.33%
Perl 3.7%
Performance Analysis 2.78%

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 Specialist ASIC Design Engineer's salary.

  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Cadence: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prototyping $191,840
19%
Problem Solving $191,840
19%
Cadence $174,107
8%

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $181,543. While startup companies pay approximate $153,638.

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $153,638
Growth Stage 51~500 $162,466
Established 501~5000 $175,327
Enterprise 5000+ $181,543

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Specialist ASIC Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 97% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Specialist ASIC Design Engineer positions in Telecom or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Specialist ASIC Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$209,573$101.030%
Software & Networking$201,512$97.025%
Internet$193,452$93.020%
Energy & Utilities$185,392$89.015%
Chemicals$177,331$85.010%

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer'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
$148,960
Average $161,210/year
$169,210
$12,413
Average $13,434/month
$14,101
$2,865
Average $3,100/week
$3,254
$72
Average $78/hour
$81
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $169,210 $14,101 $3,254 $81
Average $161,210 $13,434 $3,100 $78
25th Percentile $148,960 $12,413 $2,865 $72

Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the ASIC Design Engineer Lead role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $191,100 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Specialist ASIC Design Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Specialist ASIC Design Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Specialist ASIC Design Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Specialist ASIC Design Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Specialist ASIC Design Engineer 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 Specialist ASIC Design Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Specialist ASIC Design Engineer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Specialist ASIC Design Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. What is the salary of Juniper ASIC engineer?

The estimated salary of a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer at Juniper Networks ranges from $159,470 to $178,440 annually, with a mid-salary of $167,280. This translates to approximately $13,289 to $14,870 per month, depending on experience and qualifications.

3. How much do ASIC engineers make in the US?

As of now, the salary for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer in the United States ranges from $159,470 to $178,440 annually, with a mid-salary of $167,280. This translates to approximately $76.61 to $85.73 per hour, or about $3,061 to $3,370 per week, and $13,227 to $14,610 per month.

4. What is the salary of ASIC design verification engineer at Google?

The salary of a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer at Google ranges from approximately $159,470 to $178,440 per year, depending on experience and expertise. This data reflects the minimum, mid, and maximum salary levels for this role, providing a clear overview of potential earnings in the position.

5. How much does an ASIC design engineer make at Apple?

The salary range for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer is between $159,470 and $178,440 per year. The average base salary is approximately $167,280. While total compensation at Apple may vary, the base salary for an ASIC Design Engineer typically falls within this range, reflecting the competitive nature of the industry.

6. What is the salary of Intel ASIC design engineer?

The salary for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer typically ranges from $159,470 to $178,440, with a mid-point salary of $167,280. This is significantly lower than the average annual total compensation of $245,000 reported for ASIC design engineers at Intel, which can vary widely based on experience and other factors.

7. What is the salary of senior ASIC Design Engineer in Apple?

The salary for a Specialist ASIC Design Engineer at Apple ranges from $159,470 to $178,440 per year, with a mid-range salary of $167,280. This data reflects the compensation for professionals in this role, providing a clear overview of potential earnings based on experience and expertise.

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