Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Detroit, MI
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $129,990 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,840 take-home, or $7,903 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,932
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,059
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,885
- Michigan income tax$5,274
- Take-home pay$94,840
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.25% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,520 | $41.60 | $66,270 | $5,523 |
| 25th percentile | $100,820 | $48.47 | $75,723 | $6,310 |
| Median (50th) | $129,990 | $62.50 | $94,840 | $7,903 |
| 75th percentile | $167,740 | $80.64 | $119,038 | $9,920 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,280 | $85.71 | $125,794 | $10,483 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $129,990 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $94,840 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,559 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $129,990 | $94,840 | $94,559 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $129,990 a year, or about $62.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,820 and $167,740.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $129,990 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $94,840 a year ($7,903 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,274 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,559 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #22 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $128,650
- Engineers, All Other — $126,250
- Electrical Engineer — $114,390
- Mechanical Engineer — $109,470
- Industrial Engineer — $104,110
- Materials Engineer — $100,070
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $97,920
- Civil Engineer — $92,550
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $77,710
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $77,150
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $76,190
- Mechanical Drafter — $75,050