Hardware Development Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Hardware Development Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Development Engineer in the United States is $100,750 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,630
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $94,433 to $107,492
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,681
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View as table View as graph 25% $94,433 10% $88,681 90% $113,630 75% $107,492 $100,750 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Development Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $107,492 $8,958 $2,067 $52
Average $100,750 $8,396 $1,938 $48
25th Percentile $94,433 $7,869 $1,816 $45
Check out Hardware Development Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Controls Engineer- Hardware Design

Lincoln Electric - PLYMOUTH, MI

Senior Controls Engineer-Hardware Design

Lincoln Electric - PLYMOUTH, MI

Senior Development Engineer

Constellation Energy - COLLEGE PARK, MD

Senior Development Engineer

Constellation Energy - ASHTON, MD

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Key Factors That Influence Hardware Development Engineer Salaries

A Hardware Development 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hardware Development Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Development 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): $98,154
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,345
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,750
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,526
  • Expert (over 8 years): $103,724
Levels Salary
Entry Level Hardware Development Engineer$98,154
Intermediate Level Hardware Development Engineer$98,345
Senior Level Hardware Development Engineer$100,750
Specialist Level Hardware Development Engineer$103,526
Expert Level Hardware Development Engineer$103,724
$98,154 0 yr
$98,345 < 2 yrs
$100,750 2-4 yrs
$103,526 5-8 yrs
$103,724 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Development 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: $127,076
  • San Francisco: $125,827
  • Oakland: $123,036

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.57% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Circuit Design (Mentioned in 3.89% 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.
  • Hardware Development (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Hardware development is a complex effort that includes the creation and optimization of electronics and mechanical system elements that perform various computational processes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.57%
Circuit Design 3.89%
Hardware Development 2.25%
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 Development Engineer's salary.
  • Hard Working: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Prototyping: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • PCB Design: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Hard Working
$116,870
16%
Prototyping
$110,825
10%
PCB Design
$110,825
10%
Building Relationships
$108,810
8%
Decision Making
$108,810
8%
Python
$108,810
8%
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How Education impacts a Hardware Development Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hardware Development Engineers 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 a Hardware Development Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $92,911 and $96,935).

Hardware Development Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hardware Development Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.5%
High School 2.5%
Associates 5.8%
Bachelors 28.3%
Masters 59.2%
Doctorate 4.2%
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Hardware Development Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hardware Development 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Hardware Development Engineer

Salaries for a Hardware Development Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,478 in 2023 to around $96,494 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hardware Development Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Hardware Development Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$98,478
2024
$98,008
2025
$96,494
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $98,478
2024 $98,008
2025 $96,494
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Hardware Development Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Hardware Development Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Hardware Development Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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