Lead Hardware Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Hardware Engineer in the United States is $140,135 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,114
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $131,723 to $147,452
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $124,064
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View as table View as graph 25% $131,723 10% $124,064 90% $154,114 75% $147,452 $140,135 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Lead Hardware Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $147,452 $12,288 $2,836 $71
Average $140,135 $11,678 $2,695 $67
25th Percentile $131,723 $10,977 $2,533 $63
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Key Factors That Influence Lead Hardware Engineer Salaries

A Lead 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 Lead Hardware Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $135,079
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $135,724
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $136,757
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $139,597
  • Expert (over 8 years): $142,502
Levels Salary
Entry Level Lead Hardware Engineer$135,079
Intermediate Level Lead Hardware Engineer$135,724
Senior Level Lead Hardware Engineer$136,757
Specialist Level Lead Hardware Engineer$139,597
Expert Level Lead Hardware Engineer$142,502
$135,079 0 yr
$135,724 < 2 yrs
$136,757 2-4 yrs
$139,597 5-8 yrs
$142,502 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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: $176,752
  • San Francisco: $175,015
  • Oakland: $171,133

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.46% 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 3.83% 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 2.22% 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 7.46%
Circuit Design 3.83%
Hardware Development 2.22%
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 Lead Hardware Engineer's salary.
  • Semiconductors: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Python: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Product Design: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Semiconductors
$163,958
17%
Python
$161,155
15%
Product Design
$159,754
14%
Integrity
$155,550
11%
System Design
$154,149
10%
PCB Design
$154,149
10%
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How Education impacts a Lead Hardware Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lead 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 Lead Hardware Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $136,972 and $143,435).

Lead Hardware Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lead Hardware Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 2.9%
Associates 2.9%
Bachelors 36.2%
Masters 46.7%
Doctorate 13.3%
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Lead Hardware Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Lead Hardware Engineer

Salaries for a Lead Hardware Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $135,392 in 2023 to around $133,624 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lead Hardware Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lead Hardware Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$135,392
2024
$135,070
2025
$133,624
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $135,392
2024 $135,070
2025 $133,624
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Lead Hardware Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Lead Hardware 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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