Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $156,750 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $111,134 take-home, or $9,261 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,354
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,719
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,273
- Maryland income tax$7,271
- Take-home pay$111,134
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.50% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,200 | $39.04 | $62,461 | $5,205 |
| 25th percentile | $118,400 | $56.92 | $86,834 | $7,236 |
| Median (50th) | $156,750 | $75.36 | $111,134 | $9,261 |
| 75th percentile | $184,500 | $88.70 | $128,575 | $10,715 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,360 | $98.25 | $142,249 | $11,854 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $156,750 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $111,134 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,361 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Hardware Engineer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Baltimore, MD | $156,750 | $111,134 | $106,361 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $156,750 a year, or about $75.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $118,400 and $184,500.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $156,750 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $111,134 a year ($9,261 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,271 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,361 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #13 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Aerospace Engineer — $166,980
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,520
- Industrial Engineer — $119,990
- Mechanical Engineer — $116,700
- Electrical Engineer — $116,650
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $115,960
- Engineers, All Other — $113,880
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $107,140
- Civil Engineer — $100,500
- Environmental Engineer — $97,570
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $94,330
- Landscape Architect — $92,970