Junior Hardware Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Hardware Engineer in the United States is $83,622 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,582
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $76,513 to $90,406
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,040

Key Factors That Influence Junior Hardware Engineer Salaries

A Junior Hardware 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 Junior Hardware Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior Hardware 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): $83,123
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $99,378
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,230
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $139,947
  • Expert (over 8 years): $165,198
Levels Salary
Junior Ha... Level Junior Hardware Engineer$83,123
Hardware ... Level Junior Hardware Engineer$99,378
Hardware ... Level Junior Hardware Engineer$115,230
Hardware ... Level Junior Hardware Engineer$139,947
Hardware ... Level Junior Hardware Engineer$165,198

Top Paying Cities for Junior Hardware 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: $105,473
  • San Francisco: $104,318
  • Oakland: $102,119

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Hardware 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.
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 Junior Hardware 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 $97,838
17%
Team Development $93,657
12%
Leadership $92,821
11%

Junior Hardware Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Junior Hardware Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$100,347$48.020%
Financial Services$98,674$47.018%
Business Services$91,984$44.010%
Healthcare$91,984$44.010%
Pharmaceuticals$91,984$44.010%

How Education impacts a Junior Hardware Engineer's Salary?

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

Junior Hardware Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Hardware 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%

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

Understanding how a Junior Hardware 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 September 01, 2026
$76,513
Average $83,622/year
$90,406
$6,376
Average $6,969/month
$7,534
$1,471
Average $1,608/week
$1,739
$37
Average $40/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $90,406 $7,534 $1,739 $43
Average $83,622 $6,969 $1,608 $40
25th Percentile $76,513 $6,376 $1,471 $37

Most common benefits for Junior Hardware Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Junior Hardware Engineer

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

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FAQ about Junior Hardware Engineer

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Junior Hardware 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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