Hardware Project Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Project Engineer in the United States is $81,939 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,644
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $74,975 to $88,589
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,635
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View as table View as graph 25% $74,975 10% $68,635 90% $94,644 75% $88,589 $81,939 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Hardware Project Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $88,589 $7,382 $1,704 $43
Average $81,939 $6,828 $1,576 $39
25th Percentile $74,975 $6,248 $1,442 $36
Check out Hardware Project Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Project Engineer

Phillips Infrastructure - Columbus, OH

Project Engineer - Onsite

Western Partitions, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Project Engineer-Heavy Civil Construction

Kimmel and Associates - Columbus, OH

Senior Project Engineer

Engtal - Columbus, OH

Search More Hardware Project Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Hardware Project Engineer Salaries

A Hardware Project 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 Project Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Project 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): $81,450
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $97,375
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $112,909
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $137,131
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,877
Levels Salary
Hardware ... Level Hardware Project Engineer$81,450
Hardware ... Level Hardware Project Engineer$97,375
Hardware ... Level Hardware Project Engineer$112,909
Hardware ... Level Hardware Project Engineer$137,131
Hardware ... Level Hardware Project Engineer$161,877
$81,450 0 yr
$97,375 < 2 yrs
$112,909 2-4 yrs
$137,131 5-8 yrs
$161,877 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Hardware Project Engineer 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 Hardware Project Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $90,723.
  • California: $90,378.
  • Massachusetts: $89,174.

Top Paying Cities for Hardware Project 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: $103,349
  • San Francisco: $102,218
  • Oakland: $100,064

What Skills Can Increase a Hardware Project 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 Project 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
$95,868
17%
Team Development
$91,771
12%
Leadership
$90,952
11%
Algorithms
$90,952
11%
Networking
$90,133
10%
Hardware Development
$90,133
10%
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Hardware Project Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hardware Project 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 Project Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Project Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Hardware Project Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$98,326$47.020%
Financial Services$96,688$46.018%
Business Services$90,133$43.010%
Healthcare$90,133$43.010%
Pharmaceuticals$90,133$43.010%

How Education impacts a Hardware Project Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hardware Project 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 Project Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $74,925 and $78,169).

Hardware Project Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hardware Project Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.1%
High School 4.1%
Associates 8.1%
Bachelors 55.8%
Masters 27.4%
Doctorate 4.1%
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Hardware Project Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hardware Project 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

Salary Trends for Hardware Project Engineer

Salaries for a Hardware Project Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,439 in 2023 to around $76,838 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Hardware Project Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Hardware Project Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,439
2024
$77,780
2025
$76,838
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,439
2024 $77,780
2025 $76,838
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Hardware Project Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Hardware Project Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hardware Project Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Butler Recruitment Group

    Columbus, OH

    Butler Recruitment Group | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Construction Project Engineer. Location. Columbus, Ohio. Salary. $70,000 - $80,000. ⭐. Employee-Owned (ESOP) Company. ⭐. ... more

    2 Days Ago

  • In-finite Search Solutions

    Columbus, OH

    In-finite Search Solutions | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Team Leadership & Sales Support. Provide technical guidance for a project team of 2-5 engineer. Identify and assign tasks... more

    4 Days Ago

  • NPAworldwide

    Columbus, OH

    NPAworldwide | Columbus, OH

    Job Description:OverviewThe Project Engineer is responsible for document control of all plansand specifications, development of tracking logs, shop drawing... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Harrison Consulting Solutions

    Columbus, OH

    Harrison Consulting Solutions | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. An industry leading multi-disciplinary team is looking for a Traffic Engineer/Project Manager for their Columbus, Ohio te... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Ferguson Construction Company

    Columbus, OH

    Ferguson Construction Company | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Ferguson Construction is an award-winning general contracting company specializing in manufacturing and industrial buildi... more

    2 Days Ago

  • ClearanceJobs

    Columbus, OH

    ClearanceJobs | Columbus, OH

    Project Manager (Architect/Engineer)MBA Consulting Services, Inc. (MBA) is a federal government IT systems integrator committed to delivering solutions tha... more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Hardware Project Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Hardware Project Engineer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Hardware Project Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

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