Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer Salaries

48 verified profiles
Last updated on October 24, 2026
Average Annual Total Compensation is $326k

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer earn an average of $325k, mostly ranging from $293k to $565k based on 48 profiles.

Employee Count
massive
Equity Vest
3.5 yrs ; 29% , 29% , 29% , 13%
Signing Bonus
$25k - $50k
  10,800 people laid off in the last year.
Average total compvs top-paid
Asian
$341k n=6
100%
White
$278k n=3
82%
Overall average $320k6figr.com
For every $100 paid to Asian employees, Whites are paid $82
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Salary Profiles
Company
Title(Level)
Annual Salary
Experience
School
Degree
Location
Skills
Hardware Engineer (Principal Hardware Engineer)
Male

Base: $218k

Stocks: $173k

(Today) (2.8%) $177k

Bonus: $59k

TC:$449k

(Today) (1.1%) $454k

15yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Mountain View, CA

Hardware Engineer (Principal Hardware Engineer)
Male

Base: $216k

Stocks: $78k

(Today) (3.2%) $81k

Bonus: $69k

TC:$363k

(Today) (0.7%) $365k

8yrs
NA
Phd

Works in Redmond, WA

Prinicpal Hardware Engineer (Principal Hardware Engineer)
Male

Base: $187k

Stocks: $24k

Bonus: $34k

TC:$246k

27yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Raleigh, NC

Principal Hardware Engineer (Principal Product Designer)
Male

Base: $221k

Stocks: $63k

Bonus: -

TC:$284k

25yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Mountain View, CA

Principal Engineer (Principal Hardware Engineer)
Male

Base: $217k

Stocks: $254k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$510k

17yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Mountain View, CA

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Hardware (Principal)
Male

Base: $175k

Stocks: $53k

Bonus: $29k

TC:$257k

17yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Raleigh, NC

Principal Engineer (Principal Hardware Engineer)
Male

Base: $221k

Stocks: $44k

Bonus: $43k

TC:$308k

20yrs
NA
Masters

Works in San Francisco, CA

Principal Hardware Engineer (Principal SDE)
Male

Base: $191k

Stocks: $39k

Bonus: $39k

TC:$270k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Raleigh, NC

Base: $203k

Stocks: $53k

Bonus: $47k

TC:$304k

18yrs
NA
Masters

Works in Redmond, WA

Base: $215k

Stocks: $35k

Bonus: $35k

TC:$285k

20yrs
NA
Bachelors

Works in Mountain View, CA

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Level
Experience
Avg
25th
50th
75th
90th
95th
13 to 25 yrs
$305k
$275k
$299k
$NaNk
$NaNk
$NaNk
Level
Experience
13 to 25 yrs
Base
$196k
Stocks / Yr
$63k
Bonus
$46k
Total Salary
$305k
Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer salary levels ranges from 65 (Principal Hardware Engineer) upto 65 (Principal Hardware Engineer), with 65 (Principal Hardware Engineer) level earning average salary of $305k along with $63k worth of stock options.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer earn an average of $325k, mostly ranging from $293k per year to $565k per year based on 48 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $420k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer is $325k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer is $611k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $420k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $565k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer with reported salaries are:

  • hardware engineer - $328k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $304k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

2% of employees lie between > 41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

2% hold a Graduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer went to?

2% of employees studied at Helsinki Institute of Technology .

Frequently asked questions
How much do Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer employees make?

Employees at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer earn an average of $325k, mostly ranging from $293k per year to $565k per year based on 48 profiles. The top 10% of employees earn more than $420k per year.

What is the average salary of Microsoft Principal Hardware Engineer?

Average salary of an employee at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer is $325k.

What is the highest salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

Highest reported salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer is $611k. The top 10% of employees earn more than $420k per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping $565k per year.

What are the most common skills required at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

What are the highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

The top 5 highest paying jobs at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer with reported salaries are:

  • hardware engineer - $328k per year

Which are the top locations?
What is the median salary offered at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

The median salary approximately calculated from salary profiles measured so far is $304k per year.

How is the age distributed among employees at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

2% of employees lie between > 41 yrs .

What qualifications do employees have at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer?

2% hold a Graduate degree.

Which schools do employees working at Microsoft as Principal Hardware Engineer went to?

2% of employees studied at Helsinki Institute of Technology .

Salary Brackets
200-300 k: 45%300-400 k: 43%400-500 k: 8%> 500 k: 4%
  • 200-300 k
  • 300-400 k
  • 400-500 k
  • > 500 k
Age Brackets
> 41 yrs: 100%
  • > 41 yrs
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