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The differences between firmware engineers and hardware engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a firmware engineer and a hardware engineer. Additionally, a hardware engineer has an average salary of $104,912, which is higher than the $97,183 average annual salary of a firmware engineer.
The top three skills for a firmware engineer include python, C and C++. The most important skills for a hardware engineer are python, RF, and PCB.
| Firmware Engineer | Hardware Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $97,183 | $104,912 |
| Hourly rate | $46.72 | $50.44 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 99,014 | 53,213 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 1 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of firmware engineers focuses on the hardware from which the software runs. They play an important role in supporting the life cycle of products from its development to implementation. Their duties typically include testing the product properly and troubleshooting technical issues in collaboration with other engineering personnel, evaluating the performance of the system and ensuring that it adheres to the company's standards, and analyzing the design and needs of a system. Firmware engineers are also responsible for improvising the software as requested by clients.
Hardware engineers or computer hardware engineers are responsible for developing, designing, and examining computer hardware. They help speed up new computer technology by creating enhancements in computer hardware. The hardware engineers oversee the installation of parts, manufacturing, and production. Also, they examine intricate equipment to identify an effective way to improve it as well as design devices used in manufactured products. Another responsibility is to ensure computer hardware units work with the newest software, which often requires collaboration with other software engineers.
Firmware engineers and hardware engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Firmware Engineer | Hardware Engineer | |
| Average salary | $97,183 | $104,912 |
| Salary range | Between $73,000 And $129,000 | Between $77,000 And $142,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a firmware engineer and a hardware engineer in terms of educational background:
| Firmware Engineer | Hardware Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between firmware engineers' and hardware engineers' demographics:
| Firmware Engineer | Hardware Engineer | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 31.6% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 30.3% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |