Hardware manager vs computer hardware developer

The differences between hardware managers and computer hardware developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a hardware manager and a computer hardware developer. Additionally, a hardware manager has an average salary of $140,910, which is higher than the $99,546 average annual salary of a computer hardware developer.

The top three skills for a hardware manager include RF, customer service and product knowledge. The most important skills for a computer hardware developer are firmware, hardware development, and python.

Hardware manager vs computer hardware developer overview

	Hardware Manager	Computer Hardware Developer
Yearly salary	$140,910	$99,546
Hourly rate	$67.75	$47.86
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	4,200	116,915
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

Hardware manager vs computer hardware developer salary

Hardware managers and computer hardware developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hardware Manager	Computer Hardware Developer
Average salary	$140,910	$99,546
Salary range	Between $95,000 And $208,000	Between $74,000 And $133,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Redmond, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	Palo Alto Networks	Apple
Best paying industry	Retail	Technology

Differences between hardware manager and computer hardware developer education

There are a few differences between a hardware manager and a computer hardware developer in terms of educational background:

	Hardware Manager	Computer Hardware Developer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Electrical Engineering
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Harvard University

Hardware manager vs computer hardware developer demographics

Here are the differences between hardware managers' and computer hardware developers' demographics:

	Hardware Manager	Computer Hardware Developer
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 80.4% Female, 19.6%	Male, 76.4% Female, 23.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 23.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 29.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between hardware manager and computer hardware developer duties and responsibilities

Hardware manager example responsibilities.

Manage employees and run cash registers.
Manage multiple PCB builds from initial protos to A0 and to production.
Manage a team that develop the XGEM Capture/Replay feature for 10G Ethernet.
Result achieve by reusing existing power and cables while installing new EMC DMX3 units.
Manage the regulatory approval process for all products including FCC, UL and CE.
Manage all endpoint moves adds and changes including PC's, phones, and mobile devices.

Computer hardware developer example responsibilities.

Work in LabView to control instruments and automate tests.
Analyze and manage the project throughout SDLC, written/review specification documents.
Experience in optimizing high-speed real-time ASIC design.
Modify firmware DSP algorithms to optimize power consumption.
Perform signal quality on the L4 cache signals.
Design a test system using Java for the traffic-sign detection algorithm.

Hardware manager vs computer hardware developer skills

Common hardware manager skills

RF, 13%
Customer Service, 13%
Product Knowledge, 10%
CAD, 6%
Design Reviews, 5%
Direct Reports, 5%

Common computer hardware developer skills

Firmware, 37%
Hardware Development, 24%
Python, 13%
Design Verification, 8%
C++, 6%
Java, 2%

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Hardware Manager vs Computer Hardware Developer

Updated January 8, 2025

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