Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Hardware Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Hardware Engineer in the United States is $121,728 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $59.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $142,686
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $108,811 to $132,698
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,051
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View as table View as graph 25% $108,811 10% $97,051 90% $142,686 75% $132,698 $121,728 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $132,698 $11,058 $2,552 $64
Average $121,728 $10,144 $2,341 $59
25th Percentile $108,811 $9,068 $2,093 $52
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Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salaries

An Entry Level Hardware 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Hardware 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $71,034
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,914
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $124,419
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $162,008
  • Expert (over 8 years): $199,255
Levels Salary
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$71,034
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$107,914
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$124,419
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$162,008
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$199,255
$71,034 0 yr
$107,914 < 2 yrs
$124,419 2-4 yrs
$162,008 5-8 yrs
$199,255 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level Hardware 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: $153,536
  • San Francisco: $151,854
  • Oakland: $148,654

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Hardware Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 4.96% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Email Marketing (Mentioned in 2.48% Job Postings): Email marketing is the act of sending a commercial message, typically to a group of people, using email. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered email marketing. It usually involves using email to send advertisements, request business, or solicit sales or donations, and is meant to build loyalty, trust, or brand awareness. Marketing emails can be sent to a purchased lead list or a current customer database. The term usually refers to sending email messages with the purpose of enhancing a merchant's relationship with current or previous customers, encouraging customer loyalty and repeat business, acquiring new customers or convincing current customers to purchase something immediately, and sharing third-party ads.
  • CRM (Mentioned in 1.73% Job Postings): Customer relationship management (CRM) is a technology for managing all your company's relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 4.96%
Email Marketing 2.48%
CRM 1.73%
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 an Entry Level Hardware Engineer's salary.
  • Product Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Product Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Management
$129,032
6%
Partnering
$129,032
6%
Product Marketing
$129,032
6%
Innovation
$127,814
5%
Insight
$126,597
4%
Go To Market
$126,597
4%
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Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Level Hardware Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Entry Level Hardware Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Level Hardware Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Level Hardware Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$146,074$70.020%
Energy & Utilities$139,987$67.015%
Financial Services$139,987$67.015%
Internet$139,987$67.015%
Software & Networking$139,987$67.015%

How Education impacts an Entry Level Hardware Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level Hardware Engineers 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 an Entry Level Hardware Engineer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $115,861 and $124,571).

Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Hardware Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 2.9%
Associates 3.1%
Bachelors 55.6%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 0.7%
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Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level Hardware 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

Salary Trends for Entry Level Hardware Engineer

Salaries for an Entry Level Hardware Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $117,863 in 2023 to around $116,935 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Entry Level Hardware Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Entry Level Hardware Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$117,863
2024
$117,988
2025
$116,935
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $117,863
2024 $117,988
2025 $116,935
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Entry Level Hardware Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Entry Level Hardware Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Entry Level Hardware Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Entry Level Hardware Engineer Job

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

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Strategic Solutions & Delivery. About the Company. Innovative provider of cost containment technology & case management services. Industry.... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner

    Columbus, OH

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Bake... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MyJobsCorner

    Columbus, OH

    MyJobsCorner | Columbus, OH

    Find your next job here. Will train the right candidate. Average salaries from $12 - $22/Hr, full time and part time shifts available now. Hiring for: Chip... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    30 Days Ago

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FAQ about Entry Level Hardware Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Level Hardware Engineer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Level Hardware Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.

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