Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $144,660 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $104,484 take-home, or $8,707 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$23,452
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,969
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,098
- Colorado income tax$5,657
- Take-home pay$104,484
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,530 | $47.37 | $74,519 | $6,210 |
| 25th percentile | $126,470 | $60.80 | $92,852 | $7,738 |
| Median (50th) | $144,660 | $69.55 | $104,484 | $8,707 |
| 75th percentile | $182,190 | $87.59 | $128,485 | $10,707 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $228,890 | $110.04 | $159,961 | $13,330 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $144,660 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $104,484 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,773 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.2× 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
Denver, CO ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $144,660 | $104,484 | $98,773 |
*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 Colorado
- Fort Collins, CO — $168,990
- Boulder, CO — $161,720
- Colorado Springs, CO — $136,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Denver, CO?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $144,660 a year, or about $69.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,470 and $182,190.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $144,660 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $104,484 a year ($8,707 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,657 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,773 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #19 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Petroleum Engineer — $174,580
- Aerospace Engineer — $156,190
- Engineers, All Other — $131,740
- Mechanical Engineer — $128,180
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $127,260
- Materials Engineer — $125,750
- Electrical Engineer — $119,020
- Industrial Engineer — $108,680
- Environmental Engineer — $107,880
- Civil Engineer — $104,710
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $104,090
- Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers — $93,100