Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between hardware development engineers and engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hardware development engineer, becoming an engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a hardware development engineer has an average salary of $119,370, which is higher than the $92,077 average annual salary of an engineer.
The top three skills for a hardware development engineer include hardware development, analog and PCB. The most important skills for an engineer are python, cloud, and C++.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,370 | $92,077 |
| Hourly rate | $57.39 | $44.27 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 100,593 | 618,207 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A hardware development engineer carries out an analysis of the requirements of a needed product and tries to develop a prototype, taking into consideration the cost and specifications. You're also expected to work on already existing products and seek ways to modify them. You will be in charge of your team members and oversee all they do. Some of the hardware you may be required to design and test includes microprocessors, routers, keyboards, circuit boards, etc.
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Hardware development engineers and engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average salary | $119,370 | $92,077 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $161,000 | Between $65,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Huntsville, AL |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Apple | Fort Bend County |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a hardware development engineer and an engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between hardware development engineers' and engineers' demographics:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 86.3% Female, 13.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 29.7% White, 50.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 15.0% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |