Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $137,740 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $105,411 take-home, or $8,784 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,792
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,540
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,997
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$105,411
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,200 | $39.52 | $66,658 | $5,555 |
| 25th percentile | $87,550 | $42.09 | $70,421 | $5,868 |
| Median (50th) | $137,740 | $66.22 | $105,411 | $8,784 |
| 75th percentile | $172,330 | $82.85 | $129,054 | $10,754 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 | $145,341 | $12,112 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $137,740 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $105,411 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,877 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $137,740 | $105,411 | $106,877 |
*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
- Austin, TX — $165,530
- Dallas, TX — $162,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $137,740 a year, or about $66.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $87,550 and $172,330.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $137,740 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $105,411 a year ($8,784 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,877 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #12 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 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 Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Chemical Engineer — $138,120
- Aerospace Engineer — $133,970
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Materials Engineer — $123,250
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Landscape Architect — $103,670