Hardware Design Engineer Salary in Pacifica, CA

How much does a Hardware Design Engineer make in Pacifica, CA?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Design Engineer in Pacifica, CA is $102,112 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $117,945
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,434 to $110,399
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,533
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View as table View as graph 25% $93,434 10% $85,533 90% $117,945 75% $110,399 $102,112 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Design Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $110,399 $9,200 $2,123 $53
Average $102,112 $8,509 $1,964 $49
25th Percentile $93,434 $7,786 $1,797 $45
Check out Hardware Design Engineer Job Openings in Pacifica, CA
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Key Factors That Influence Hardware Design Engineer Salaries

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, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hardware Design Engineer Salaries?

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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $101,502
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $121,349
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $140,706
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $170,893
  • Expert (over 8 years): $201,731
Levels Salary
Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer$101,502
Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer$121,349
Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer$140,706
Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer$170,893
Hardware ... Level Hardware Design Engineer$201,731
$101,502 0 yr
$121,349 < 2 yrs
$140,706 2-4 yrs
$170,893 5-8 yrs
$201,731 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Design 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: $105,692
  • San Francisco: $104,535
  • Oakland: $102,332

What Skills Can Increase a Hardware Design Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.61% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Hardware Design (Mentioned in 2.88% Job Postings): Hardware design may be viewed as algorithm, which considers all of the systems present and foreseeable requirements and arranges the necessary hardware components into a workable set of cleanly bounded subsystems with no more parts than are required.
  • Circuit Design (Mentioned in 1.82% Job Postings): The process of circuit design can cover systems ranging from complex electronic systems all the way down to the individual transistors within an integrated circuit. For simple circuits the design process can often be done by one person without needing a planned or structured design process, but for more complex designs, teams of designers following a systematic approach with intelligently guided computer simulation are becoming increasingly common. In integrated circuit design automation, the term "circuit design" often refers to the step of the design cycle which outputs the schematics of the integrated circuit. Typically this is the step between logic design and physical design.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.61%
Hardware Design 2.88%
Circuit Design 1.82%
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 a Hardware Design Engineer's salary.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Decision Making
$119,471
17%
Team Development
$114,365
12%
Leadership
$113,344
11%
Algorithms
$113,344
11%
Networking
$112,323
10%
Hardware Development
$112,323
10%
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Hardware Design Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Design Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$122,534$59.020%
Financial Services$120,492$58.018%
Business Services$112,323$54.010%
Healthcare$112,323$54.010%
Pharmaceuticals$112,323$54.010%

Hardware Design Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Find Your Next Hardware Design Engineer Job

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.

United States
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    Pacifica, CA

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