Embedded Firmware Salaries and Rates in 2024
How statistics are calculated
We count how many offers each candidate received and for what salary. For example, if a Embedded Firmware with a salary of $4,500 received 10 offers, then we would count him 10 times. If there were no offers, then he would not get into the statistics either.
The graph column is the total number of offers. This is not the number of vacancies, but an indicator of the level of demand. The more offers there are, the more companies try to hire such a specialist. 5k+ includes candidates with salaries >= $5,000 and < $5,500.
Median Salary Expectation – the weighted average of the market offer in the selected specialization, that is, the most frequent job offers for the selected specialization received by candidates. We do not count accepted or rejected offers.
Embedded Firmware
Firmware is specialized software permanently programmed into the read-only memory (ROM) of conventional computers and embedded systems, like those found in household appliances. This firmware is often called the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) in laptops. The BIOS is critical for the boot process, helping to initialize hardware and transition control to the operating system.
ROM, where firmware is stored, is non-volatile, meaning it retains its data even when the device’s power is turned off, unlike volatile RAM (Random Access Memory), which loses its data when power is lost. RAM is used after the BIOS initialises, hosting the operating system, applications, and files, which are dynamic and change frequently.
Embedded systems operate similarly to PCs, using firmware stored on ROM chips to perform specific functions. For example, a microwave might have firmware programmed to activate the magnetron when the start button is pressed, heating the food inside. The nature of firmware in these systems is such that it rarely changes, mirroring the infrequency of BIOS updates in personal computers.
This firmware is the foundational control layer, bridging the device’s hardware and any higher-level software operations. It identifies and integrates hardware components at startup and ensures the system functions correctly and consistently. Essentially, firmware is the “secret sauce” that enables devices, from computers to microwaves, to perform their essential functions reliably and effectively right from the moment they are powered on.
In everyday usage, “firmware” and “embedded software” are often used interchangeably, as they both refer to software integrated into hardware systems. However, the two have nuanced differences based primarily on their mutability and functionality.
Firmware is traditionally defined as software that is “firmly” embedded in a device, often stored in non-volatile memory like ROM or mask ROM, particularly in systems-on-chips (SoCs) such as Wi-Fi chips and other integrated circuits (ICs). This type of firmware is typically not meant to be changed once embedded, though it may be patchable. It’s embedded directly within the IC and primarily controls the IC itself, not its larger device.
On the other hand, embedded software generally refers to software programmed into microcontroller unit (MCU) flash memory, which can be reprogrammed and updated. It’s used to control entire hardware units or devices and is “embedded” because it resides within the device but is not as “firm” as firmware because of its reprogrammable nature.
Originally, the distinction aimed to differentiate software that could be easily modified (“soft”) from software that was written or hard to change (“firm”), which required a design approach more akin to hardware. Over time, as most systems began to use rewritable flash memory, this distinction has become less about practicality and more symbolic. Nowadays, terms like firmware might specifically refer to bootloaders or microcontroller codes, which operate closer to the hardware level, are less visible, and generally change less frequently than other types of software within a device.
