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Hourly Wage for Hardware Engineering Director Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Hardware Engineering Director?

As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Hardware Engineering Director in the United States is $114, which translates to an annual salary of about $236,547.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107 to $122 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $101 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $107 10% $101 90% $130 75% $122 $114 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Engineering Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $254,135 $21,178 $4,887 $122
Average $236,547 $19,712 $4,549 $114
25th Percentile $222,277 $18,523 $4,275 $107
Check out Hardware Engineering Director Job Openings in the United States
Hardware Engineering Manager

3dB Labs, Inc. - West Chester, OH

Hardware Engineering Functional Manager

Ralliant - Solon, OH

Director of Engineering

The Armor Group, Inc. - Mason, OH

Director of Engineering

American Regent - New Albany, OH

Search More Hardware Engineering Director Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Hardware Engineering Director Salaries

A Hardware 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.

How Experience Level Affects Hardware Engineering Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware 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:

  • Hardware Engineering Supervisor (12+ years): $127,824
  • Hardware Engineering Manager (12+ years): $163,437
  • Hardware Engineering Senior Manager (12+ years): $192,387
  • Hardware Engineering Director (12+ years): $236,547
  • Hardware Engineering Senior Director (12+ years): $296,071
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Hardware Engineering Supervisor12+ years$127,824
Hardware Engineering Manager12+ years$163,437
Hardware Engineering Senior Manager12+ years$192,387
Hardware Engineering Director12+ years$236,547
Hardware Engineering Senior Director12+ years$296,071
$127,824 Hardware ...
$163,437 Hardware ...
$192,387 Hardware ...
$236,547 Hardware ...
$296,071 Hardware ...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Engineering Directors

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: $298,357
  • San Francisco: $295,424
  • Oakland: $288,871

What Skills Can Increase a Hardware Engineering Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
  • Project Planning (Mentioned in 3.45% Job Postings): Project planning is part of project management, which relates to the use of schedules such as Gantt charts to plan and subsequently report progress within the project environment. Project planning can be done manually or by the use of project management software.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.45%
Logistics 3.45%
Project Planning 3.45%
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 Engineering Director's salary.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Supply Chain: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Vision
$279,125
18%
Supply Chain
$248,374
5%
Continuous Improvement
$248,374
5%
Industrial Design
$248,374
5%
Coordination
$241,278
2%
Mechanical Engineering
$241,278
2%
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Hardware Engineering Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hardware 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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Hardware Engineering Director

Salaries for a Hardware Engineering Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $194,149 in 2023 to around $192,158 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hardware Engineering Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Hardware Engineering Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$194,149
2024
$195,551
2025
$192,158
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $194,149
2024 $195,551
2025 $192,158
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Hardware Engineering Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Hardware Engineering Director

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

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FAQ about Hardware Engineering Director

1. What are the responsibilities of Hardware Engineering Director?

Directs and oversees all aspects of hardware engineering activities within an organization. Establishes policies and procedures that produce high-quality hardware products. Ensures all hardware engineering projects, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with the organization's established policies and objectives. Responsible for the creation and implementation of the organization's hardware engineering strategy. Collaborates and partners with key stakeholders to align priorities and drive projects forward. Stays abreast of advancements in hardware technology and materials. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

2. What are the skills of Hardware Engineering Director

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Logistics: In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.

3.)

Project Planning: Project planning is part of project management, which relates to the use of schedules such as Gantt charts to plan and subsequently report progress within the project environment. Project planning can be done manually or by the use of project management software.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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