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The differences between verification engineers and hardware development 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 verification engineer and a hardware development engineer. Additionally, a hardware development engineer has an average salary of $119,370, which is higher than the $104,158 average annual salary of a verification engineer.
The top three skills for a verification engineer include python, UVM and architecture. The most important skills for a hardware development engineer are hardware development, analog, and PCB.
| Verification Engineer | Hardware Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $104,158 | $119,370 |
| Hourly rate | $50.08 | $57.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 38,261 | 100,593 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A verification engineer is responsible for running quality tests to the production processes to ensure high-quality outputs according to business requirements and client specifications. Verification engineers develop testing methodologies, inspect tools and equipment, and creating instructional manuals. They also resolve inconsistencies within the process, calibrating technical mechanisms, and identifying areas of improvement to enhance efficiency and build accurate deliverables. A verification engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in monitoring progress and coordinating with clients for necessary plan adjustments.
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.
Verification engineers and hardware development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Verification Engineer | Hardware Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $104,158 | $119,370 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $143,000 | Between $88,000 And $161,000 |
| Highest paying City | Concord, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a verification engineer and a hardware development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Verification Engineer | Hardware Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between verification engineers' and hardware development engineers' demographics:
| Verification Engineer | Hardware Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 87.2% Female, 12.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 34.1% White, 47.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |