Entry Level Hardware Engineer Salary in Foothill Ranch, CA

How much does an Entry Level Hardware Engineer make in Foothill Ranch, CA?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Hardware Engineer in Foothill Ranch, CA is $132,844 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): $155,716
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,748 to $144,816
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $105,913
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View as table View as graph 25% $118,748 10% $105,913 90% $155,716 75% $144,816 $132,844 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 $144,816 $12,068 $2,785 $70
Average $132,844 $11,070 $2,555 $64
25th Percentile $118,748 $9,896 $2,284 $57
Check out Entry Level Hardware Engineer Job Openings in Foothill Ranch, CA
Quality Assurance

Pacer Group - Foothill Ranch, CA

Sr CNC Machinist Programmer

Alcon - Foothill Ranch, CA

Machinist Fabricator

TAE Technologies - Foothill Ranch, CA

Oakley

EssilorLuxottica SA - Foothill Ranch, 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): $77,520
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $117,769
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $135,781
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $176,803
  • Expert (over 8 years): $217,451
Levels Salary
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$77,520
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$117,769
Entry Lev... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$135,781
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$176,803
Marketing... Level Entry Level Hardware Engineer$217,451
$77,520 0 yr
$117,769 < 2 yrs
$135,781 2-4 yrs
$176,803 5-8 yrs
$217,451 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

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
$140,815
6%
Partnering
$140,815
6%
Product Marketing
$140,815
6%
Innovation
$139,486
5%
Insight
$138,158
4%
Go To Market
$138,158
4%
Get Latest Data

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$159,413$77.020%
Energy & Utilities$152,771$73.015%
Financial Services$152,771$73.015%
Internet$152,771$73.015%
Software & Networking$152,771$73.015%

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
  • Adecco USA, Inc.

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Adecco USA, Inc. | Foothill Ranch, CA

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    4 Days Ago

  • Aston Carter

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Aston Carter | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Customer Experience Service CoordinatorServe as the primary point of contact for customers, coordinating field service activities to ensure the smooth exec... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Courtyard by Marriott

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Courtyard by Marriott | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Courtyard by Marriott - JobID:F0831530E89AE3D20A95FDB60016C4AF Front Desk Agent / Concierge As a Guest Service Expert at Courtyard by Marriott, you'll:Gree... more

    5 Days Ago

  • LHH

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    LHH | Foothill Ranch, CA

    Payroll & HR SpecialistLHH is seeking an experienced, independent Payroll & HR Specialist to manage full-cycle payroll and support core HR functions for a ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Hoag Health System

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Hoag Health System | Foothill Ranch, CA

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    5 Days Ago

  • Sharkey's Cuts for Kids

    Foothill Ranch, CA

    Sharkey's Cuts for Kids | Foothill Ranch, CA

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