The AI boom has flipped the script… Hardware engineers’ salaries soar past software engineers

AI infrastructure demand is surging, and hardware engineers are seeing compensation rise faster than software peers, especially in early- and mid-career roles.

The boom in generative AI and large-scale compute has increased demand for physical systems like semiconductors, power, and cooling.

This shift is reshaping Silicon Valley hiring, boosting the value and competition for engineers who design the real-world infrastructure behind AI.