Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Design Engineer in Alabama is $76,984 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.
However, a Hardware Design Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI-Powered Talent
Hardware Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $83,232 | $6,936 | $1,601 | $40 |
| Average | $76,984 | $6,415 | $1,480 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,441 | $5,870 | $1,355 | $34 |
Johnson Controls Federal Systems - Huntsville, AL
Fives - Pinson, AL
Retrax Holdings LLC - Montgomery, AL
TTL Inc - Daphne, AL
A Hardware Design 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Design 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer | $76,524 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer | $91,487 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer | $106,081 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer | $128,839 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer | $152,088 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Hardware Design Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Hardware Design Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Hardware Design Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Design Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $92,381 | $44.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $90,841 | $44.0 | 18% |
| Business Services | $84,682 | $41.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $84,682 | $41.0 | 10% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $84,682 | $41.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Hardware Design 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $83,232 | $6,936 | $1,601 | $40 |
| Average | $76,984 | $6,415 | $1,480 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,441 | $5,870 | $1,355 | $34 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hardware Design Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
The Panther Group
Decatur, AL
The Panther Group | Decatur, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Mechanical Design Engineer. About the Opportunity. Are you a hands-on Mechanical Design Engineer who enjoys seeing your D... more
6 Days Ago
Insight Recruitment, LLC
Haleyville, AL
Insight Recruitment, LLC | Haleyville, AL
Job Description. Job Description. We’re looking for a hands-on Product Design Engineer who thrives on turning ideas into real, production-ready products. I... more
6 Days Ago
Invariant Corporation
Huntsville, AL
Invariant Corporation | Huntsville, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Optical Design Engineer. 26-046. Invariant Corporation is seeking a talented and motivatedOptical Systems Design Engineer... more
7 Days Ago
Karman Space & Defense
Decatur, AL
Karman Space & Defense | Decatur, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system s... more
8 Days Ago
Mesa Associates, Inc.
Madison, AL
Mesa Associates, Inc. | Madison, AL
Job Description. Job Description. PDS 6 / Power Delivery Substation. This position is not eligible for recruiting or sourcing by outside parties. Disclaime... more
8 Days Ago
Black Creek Integrated Systems
Birmingham, AL
Black Creek Integrated Systems | Birmingham, AL
Job Description. Job Description. Duties & Responsibilities. Provide technical leadership, setting direction for a team of engineers. Ensure adherence to e... more
8 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
