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Hardware manager vs lead hardware engineer

The differences between hardware managers and lead 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 hardware manager and a lead hardware engineer. Additionally, a hardware manager has an average salary of $140,910, which is higher than the $121,252 average annual salary of a lead hardware engineer.

The top three skills for a hardware manager include RF, customer service and product knowledge. The most important skills for a lead hardware engineer are RF, system design, and FPGA.

Hardware manager vs lead hardware engineer overview

Hardware ManagerLead Hardware Engineer
Yearly salary$140,910$121,252
Hourly rate$67.75$58.29
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs4,20039,713
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Hardware manager vs lead hardware engineer salary

Hardware managers and lead hardware engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hardware ManagerLead Hardware Engineer
Average salary$140,910$121,252
Salary rangeBetween $95,000 And $208,000Between $89,000 And $163,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyPalo Alto NetworksMeta
Best paying industryRetailStart-up

Differences between hardware manager and lead hardware engineer education

There are a few differences between a hardware manager and a lead hardware engineer in terms of educational background:

Hardware ManagerLead Hardware Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNortheastern University

Hardware manager vs lead hardware engineer demographics

Here are the differences between hardware managers' and lead hardware engineers' demographics:

Hardware ManagerLead Hardware Engineer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 80.4% Female, 19.6%Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.6% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 29.5% White, 49.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between hardware manager and lead hardware engineer 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.
  • Show more

Lead hardware engineer example responsibilities.

  • Generate synthesis reports and automate simulation using Perl scripts.
  • Create shell scripts to do batch testing and debug FPGA design.
  • Participate in digital signal processing (FPGA) hardware design and integration.
  • Develop test procedures and methodologies to test bases station and handheld RF hardware.
  • Debug Linux systems and load applications into Linux file systems using command line.
  • Specify and design Ethernet access module which interface to atm-base OC-3 access product.
  • Show more

Hardware manager vs lead hardware engineer skills

Common hardware manager skills
  • RF, 13%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 10%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Design Reviews, 5%
  • Direct Reports, 5%
Common lead hardware engineer skills
  • RF, 8%
  • System Design, 7%
  • FPGA, 6%
  • Analog, 5%
  • Product Development, 5%
  • PCB, 4%

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