Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Austin, TX
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $165,530 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $124,406 take-home, or $10,367 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,461
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,263
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,400
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$124,406
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,080 | $49.56 | $81,347 | $6,779 |
| 25th percentile | $128,130 | $61.60 | $98,843 | $8,237 |
| Median (50th) | $165,530 | $79.58 | $124,406 | $10,367 |
| 75th percentile | $208,830 | $100.40 | $155,430 | $12,953 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $254,180+ | $122.20 | $185,926 | $15,494 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,530 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $124,406 take-home pay has the buying power of $126,859 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Austin, TX has 6.0× the national concentration of computer hardware engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #1 of 29 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $165,530 | $124,406 | $126,859 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $209,860 | $138,173 | $125,131 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $162,870 | $122,588 | $118,913 |
| 4 | Fort Collins, CO | $168,990 | $120,044 | $118,705 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $167,010 | $121,451 | $117,553 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $203,890 | $134,409 | $116,258 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $169,120 | $126,860 | $114,151 |
| 8 | Palm Bay, FL | $150,530 | $114,153 | $114,148 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Computer Hardware Engineer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $162,870
- Houston, TX — $137,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Austin, TX?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $165,530 a year, or about $79.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,130 and $208,830.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $165,530 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $124,406 a year ($10,367 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $126,859 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #1 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,960
- Electrical Engineer — $145,360
- Engineers, All Other — $109,610
- Mechanical Engineer — $106,690
- Industrial Engineer — $103,610
- Civil Engineer — $100,470
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $96,600
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $74,230
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $69,970
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $66,910
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $62,320
- Surveyor — $57,580