Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in San Diego, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $174,440 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $116,235 take-home, or $9,686 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,600
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,815
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,529
- California income tax$11,993
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,268
- Take-home pay$116,235
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $122,910 | $59.09 | $86,476 | $7,206 |
| 25th percentile | $133,890 | $64.37 | $92,817 | $7,735 |
| Median (50th) | $174,440 | $83.87 | $116,235 | $9,686 |
| 75th percentile | $218,150 | $104.88 | $143,378 | $11,948 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,940 | $109.59 | $148,768 | $12,397 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $174,440 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $116,235 take-home pay has the buying power of $103,886 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 4.4× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $174,440 | $116,235 | $103,886 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $209,860
- San Francisco, CA — $203,890
- Los Angeles, CA — $158,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in San Diego, CA?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $174,440 a year, or about $83.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $133,890 and $218,150.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $174,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $116,235 a year ($9,686 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,261 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $103,886 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #14 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $156,480
- Aerospace Engineer — $135,010
- Engineers, All Other — $132,790
- Electrical Engineer — $127,270
- Mechanical Engineer — $121,750
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $120,040
- Environmental Engineer — $119,390
- Industrial Engineer — $119,050
- Civil Engineer — $108,900
- Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $92,480
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $91,620
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $80,840