How much does an FPGA Design make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an FPGA Design in the United States is $113,613 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $55.

However, an FPGA Design's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $133,069
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $105,410 to $123,797
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $97,942

Key Factors That Influence FPGA Design Salaries

An FPGA Design'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 FPGA Design Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an FPGA Design'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): $81,417
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,338
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,864
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,074
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,806
Levels Salary
Hardware ... Level FPGA Design$81,417
Hardware ... Level FPGA Design$97,338
FPGA Desi... Level FPGA Design$112,864
Hardware ... Level FPGA Design$137,074
Hardware ... Level FPGA Design$161,806

How Do FPGA Design Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract FPGA Designs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $125,792.
  • California: $125,315.
  • Massachusetts: $123,645.

Top Paying Cities for FPGA Designs

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: $143,300
  • San Francisco: $141,731
  • Oakland: $138,744

What Skills Can Increase an FPGA Design's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Python (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Applying the concepts and algorithms of Python to design, develop and maintain software applications to comply with business requirements.
  • Debugging (Mentioned in 1.77% Job Postings): Debugging is the process of finding and resolving defects or problems within a computer program that prevent correct operation of computer software or a system. Debugging tactics can involve interactive debugging, control flow analysis, unit testing, integration testing, log file analysis, monitoring at the application or system level, memory dumps, and profiling.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.53%
Python 2.84%
Debugging 1.77%

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 FPGA Design's salary.

  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Integrity: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Python $120,430
6%
Insight $119,294
5%
Integrity $119,294
5%

FPGA Design Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For FPGA Design roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, FPGA Design positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view FPGA Design as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an FPGA Design

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$142,016$68.025%
Energy & Utilities$136,336$66.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$130,655$63.015%
Biotechnology$124,974$60.010%
Healthcare$124,974$60.010%

How Education impacts an FPGA Design's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many FPGA Designs enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 FPGA Design with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $111,673 and $116,809).

FPGA Design Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for FPGA Design
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.8%
High School 2.8%
Associates 1.9%
Bachelors 28.0%
Masters 57.9%
Doctorate 9.3%

FPGA Design Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an FPGA Design'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
$105,410
Average $113,613/year
$123,797
$8,784
Average $9,468/month
$10,316
$2,027
Average $2,185/week
$2,381
$51
Average $55/hour
$60
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $123,797 $10,316 $2,381 $60
Average $113,613 $9,468 $2,185 $55
25th Percentile $105,410 $8,784 $2,027 $51

Most common benefits for FPGA Design

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

Common company salaries for FPGA Design

Here are companies hiring for FPGA Design and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next FPGA Design Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current FPGA Design 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 FPGA Design

1. What industry pays the highest salary for FPGA Design?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for FPGA Design roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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.

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