Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Hardware Engineer in Washington is $151,936 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.
However, a Lead Hardware Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
Lead Hardware Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $159,838 | $13,320 | $3,074 | $77 |
| Average | $151,936 | $12,661 | $2,922 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $142,817 | $11,901 | $2,746 | $69 |
Team Red Dog - Redmond, WA
Blue Origin - Seattle, WA
Raft Company Website - Tacoma, WA
ABM Industries - Seattle, WA
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Hardware ... Level Lead Hardware Engineer | $107,476 |
| Hardware ... Level Lead Hardware Engineer | $124,620 |
| Lead Hard... Level Lead Hardware Engineer | $151,355 |
| Hardware ... Level Lead Hardware Engineer | $178,668 |
| Hardware ... Level Lead Hardware Engineer | $213,529 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Lead Hardware Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Lead Hardware Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 42% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Lead Hardware Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Hardware Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $179,285 | $86.0 | 18% |
| Financial Services | $179,285 | $86.0 | 18% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $179,285 | $86.0 | 18% |
| Software & Networking | $179,285 | $86.0 | 18% |
| Internet | $173,208 | $83.0 | 14% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $159,838 | $13,320 | $3,074 | $77 |
| Average | $151,936 | $12,661 | $2,922 | $73 |
| 25th Percentile | $142,817 | $11,901 | $2,746 | $69 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Hardware Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Janicki Industries
Hamilton, WA
Janicki Industries | Hamilton, WA
Industrial Engineer Lead. Janicki Industries is an innovative, family-owned aerospace company located at the foot of the Cascades. We focus on engineering ... more
5 Days Ago
Janicki Industries, Inc.
Hamilton, WA
Janicki Industries, Inc. | Hamilton, WA
Job Description. Job Description. At Janicki Industries, we turn complex ideas into real-world solutions through advanced engineering and manufacturing. Ou... more
5 Days Ago
Century West Engineering
Vancouver, WA
Century West Engineering | Vancouver, WA
Job Description. Job Description. Century West Engineering is seeking an engineer to lead stormwater design on aviation and municipal engineering projects ... more
5 Days Ago
Eaton Plc
Kennewick, WA
Eaton Plc | Kennewick, WA
Lead Service Sales Engineer. Eaton's ES AMER NAS division is currently seeking a Lead Service Sales Engineer. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of one... more
5 Days Ago
Eaton Plc
Seattle, WA
Eaton Plc | Seattle, WA
Lead Service Sales Engineer. Eaton's ES AMER NAS division is currently seeking a Lead Service Sales Engineer. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of one... more
5 Days Ago
Jamco America Inc
Everett, WA
Jamco America Inc | Everett, WA
Job Description. Job Description. FLSA Status. Exempt. Summary. This position is responsible for leading Seat Design Engineers in the research, design and ... more
6 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
