Computer Hardware Engineer Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers earn a median $161,740 a year nationally. Architecture and Engineering Occupations
U.S. median
$161,740
$77.76 per hour
Range
$92,940 – $225,330
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
76,660
across the U.S.
Computer Hardware Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$121,815
per year · effective tax rate 24.7%
$10,151Monthly
$5,076Twice a month
$4,685Every 2 weeks
$58.57Hourly
- Federal income tax$27,552
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,028
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,345
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$121,815
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,940 | $44.68 | $74,213 |
| 25th percentile | $126,090 | $60.62 | $97,449 |
| Median (50th) | $161,740 | $77.76 | $121,815 |
| 75th percentile | $202,990 | $97.59 | $151,129 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,330 | $108.33 | $166,986 |
Best cities for computer hardware engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $165,530 | $124,406 | $126,859 | 3,850 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $209,860 | $138,173 | $125,131 | 7,940 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $162,870 | $122,588 | $118,913 | 1,570 |
| 4 | Fort Collins, CO | $168,990 | $120,044 | $118,705 | 490 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $167,010 | $121,451 | $117,553 | 2,820 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $203,890 | $134,409 | $116,258 | 2,810 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $169,120 | $126,860 | $114,151 | 1,410 |
| 8 | Palm Bay, FL | $150,530 | $114,153 | $114,148 | 500 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $161,720 | $115,394 | $109,688 | 650 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | $142,670 | $101,912 | $109,499 | 560 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $167,600 | $117,661 | $108,677 | 2,840 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $137,740 | $105,411 | $106,877 | 840 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $156,750 | $111,134 | $106,361 | 740 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $174,440 | $116,235 | $103,886 | 3,330 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $136,300 | $104,427 | $102,967 | 650 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $159,480 | $109,683 | $100,734 | 1,790 |
| 17 | New York, NY | $160,300 | $112,414 | $99,867 | 1,780 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $136,920 | $99,535 | $98,836 | 490 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $144,660 | $104,484 | $98,773 | 970 |
| 20 | Boise City, ID | $131,570 | $95,329 | $96,888 | 830 |
| 21 | Tampa, FL | $125,680 | $97,168 | $96,311 | 580 |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $129,990 | $94,840 | $94,559 | 1,060 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $158,530 | $107,047 | $94,259 | 1,870 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $133,860 | $96,278 | $92,937 | 1,080 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $134,300 | $95,351 | $90,964 | 550 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $209,860
- San Francisco, CA — $203,890
- San Diego, CA — $174,440
- Seattle, WA — $169,120
- Fort Collins, CO — $168,990
- Boston, MA — $167,600
- Phoenix, AZ — $167,010
- Austin, TX — $165,530
- Dallas, TX — $162,870
- Boulder, CO — $161,720
- New York, NY — $160,300
- Washington, DC — $159,480
- Los Angeles, CA — $158,530
- Baltimore, MD — $156,750
- Palm Bay, FL — $150,530
Computer Hardware Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $185,180 | $122,479 | $126,590 – $239,200+ | 19,820 |
| Washington | $169,120 | $126,860 | $100,120 – $239,200+ | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 | $117,661 | $118,490 – $239,200+ | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $165,350 | $117,511 | $117,150 – $204,150 | 5,260 |
| Texas | $163,860 | $123,264 | $92,940 – $216,260 | 7,390 |
| New York | $163,470 | $114,393 | $101,530 – $224,490 | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 | $112,005 | $100,690 – $211,950 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $159,880 | $109,835 | $94,270 – $202,980 | 90 |
| Arizona | $158,280 | $115,702 | $100,900 – $218,440 | 3,110 |
| Colorado | $156,080 | $111,788 | $100,050 – $222,220 | 2,660 |
| Maryland | $152,730 | $108,598 | $87,840 – $198,300 | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $142,880 | $102,013 | $87,540 – $210,900 | 580 |
| Virginia | $139,030 | $99,113 | $87,630 – $195,290 | 1,720 |
| Alabama | $136,990 | $98,314 | $80,680 – $195,190 | 680 |
| Delaware | $135,690 | $96,396 | $96,140 – $200,240 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $134,950 | $98,244 | $96,910 – $173,350 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $134,670 | $98,448 | $74,310 – $234,390 | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $134,300 | $95,351 | $84,770 – $176,340 | 770 |
| Florida | $134,160 | $102,964 | $77,680 – $203,510 | 3,290 |
| Illinois | $133,220 | $95,872 | $77,420 – $210,100 | 1,420 |
| Idaho | $131,570 | $95,329 | $85,230 – $212,880 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $130,830 | $100,688 | $96,300 – $167,030 | — |
| New Hampshire | $129,140 | $99,533 | $75,740 – $202,720 | 310 |
| Iowa | $125,120 | $92,683 | $77,480 – $187,980 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $125,110 | $90,429 | $74,990 – $171,540 | 690 |
| Arkansas | $120,290 | $88,975 | $70,870 – $166,450 | 160 |
| Michigan | $119,670 | $88,183 | $78,240 – $176,700 | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $119,510 | $88,830 | $80,620 – $158,570 | 390 |
| Ohio | $118,160 | $89,489 | $75,240 – $196,680 | 580 |
| Nevada | $116,530 | $90,809 | $83,310 – $155,020 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $116,200 | $86,627 | $71,400 – $128,050 | 500 |
| Utah | $106,950 | $80,223 | $72,550 – $168,320 | 430 |
| Missouri | $103,980 | $78,030 | $61,290 – $150,050 | 900 |
| Kansas | $101,750 | $75,533 | $74,520 – $145,800 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $101,400 | $80,165 | $78,040 – $150,110 | 160 |
| Georgia | $100,210 | $74,750 | $70,920 – $165,610 | 650 |
| Indiana | $98,350 | $75,147 | $73,780 – $136,970 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $95,600 | $72,328 | $77,150 – $171,560 | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $83,670 | $64,638 | $68,330 – $172,820 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $83,550 | $65,487 | $47,840 – $150,290 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $78,320 | $61,527 | $68,770 – $140,650 | 150 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make?
The national median salary for computer hardware engineers is $161,740 a year ($77.76 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $92,940 and the top 10% earn over $225,330. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays computer hardware engineers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $185,180. After taxes and local prices, Austin, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many computer hardware engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 76,660 people work as computer hardware engineers nationwide.
All 29 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boise City, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Chicago, IL
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Collins, CO
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Palm Bay, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- Providence, RI
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC