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The differences between hardware development engineers and staff 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 a staff engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a hardware development engineer has an average salary of $119,370, which is higher than the $107,530 average annual salary of a staff engineer.
The top three skills for a hardware development engineer include hardware development, analog and PCB. The most important skills for a staff engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $119,370 | $107,530 |
| Hourly rate | $57.39 | $51.70 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 100,593 | 277,011 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| 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.
Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations. Other duties include designing and developing machinery, tools, and engines, solving design problems, and building the manufacturing equipment needed to create their products.
Hardware development engineers and staff engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hardware Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average salary | $119,370 | $107,530 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $161,000 | Between $69,000 And $167,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Flexport |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a hardware development engineer and a staff engineer in terms of educational background:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between hardware development engineers' and staff engineers' demographics:
| Hardware Development Engineer | Staff Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% | Male, 87.9% Female, 12.1% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 16.8% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |