Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Chicago, IL
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $133,860 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,278 take-home, or $8,023 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,860
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,299
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,941
- Illinois income tax$6,481
- Take-home pay$96,278
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,450 | $36.75 | $58,973 | $4,914 |
| 25th percentile | $97,820 | $47.03 | $72,949 | $6,079 |
| Median (50th) | $133,860 | $64.36 | $96,278 | $8,023 |
| 75th percentile | $169,550 | $81.51 | $118,905 | $9,909 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $210,100 | $101.01 | $146,110 | $12,176 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,860 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $96,278 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,937 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 less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.49), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $133,860 | $96,278 | $92,937 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $133,860 a year, or about $64.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,820 and $169,550.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $133,860 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $96,278 a year ($8,023 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,481 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,937 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #24 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $125,650
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