Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salary in Costa Mesa, CA

How much does an Entry Level Hardware Engineer make in Costa Mesa, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Hardware Engineer in Costa Mesa, CA is $133,566 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,562
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $119,393 to $145,603
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,489
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View as table View as graph 25% $119,393 10% $106,489 90% $156,562 75% $145,603 $133,566 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 $145,603 $12,134 $2,800 $70
Average $133,566 $11,131 $2,569 $64
25th Percentile $119,393 $9,949 $2,296 $57
Check out Entry Level Hardware Engineer Job Openings in Costa Mesa, CA
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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, skills 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): $77,942
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $118,409
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $136,518
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $177,763
  • Expert (over 8 years): $218,632
Levels Salary
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$77,942
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$118,409
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$136,518
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$177,763
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$218,632
$77,942 0 yr
$118,409 < 2 yrs
$136,518 2-4 yrs
$177,763 5-8 yrs
$218,632 > 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
$141,580
6%
Partnering
$141,580
6%
Product Marketing
$141,580
6%
Innovation
$140,244
5%
Insight
$138,909
4%
Go To Market
$138,909
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$160,279$77.020%
Energy & Utilities$153,601$74.015%
Financial Services$153,601$74.015%
Internet$153,601$74.015%
Software & Networking$153,601$74.015%

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

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
  • Anduril

    Costa Mesa, CA

    Anduril | Costa Mesa, CA

    Lead Technician, Omen. Costa Mesa, California, United States. Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allie... more

    4 Days Ago

  • ANDURIL INDUSTRIES

    Costa Mesa, CA

    ANDURIL INDUSTRIES | Costa Mesa, CA

    Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Metro One Security

    Costa Mesa, CA

    Metro One Security | Costa Mesa, CA

    Job Title. Location Main, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627, United States. Base Pay $23.00 - $23.00 / Hour. Employee Type Non-Exempt. Required Degree NONE. Manage Oth... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Navstar

    Costa Mesa, CA

    Navstar | Costa Mesa, CA

    Job Title. Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. B... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Volunteers of America Los Angeles

    Costa Mesa, CA

    Volunteers of America Los Angeles | Costa Mesa, CA

    Lead Monitor I. The Lead Monitor I will arrange, coordinate, supervise, mentor, and oversee the Monitors' efforts to provide security of the program premis... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Werner Enterprises

    Costa Mesa, CA

    CDL

    Werner Enterprises | Costa Mesa, CA

    Werner is Now Urgently Hiring Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Top Performers Earn $85,000 - $125,000+ Annually on Dedicated Routes. Consistent and Reliable ... more

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Cost of Living In Costa Mesa, CA

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