Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in San Francisco, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $203,890 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $134,409 take-home, or $11,201 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$37,668
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,991
- California income tax$14,732
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,651
- Take-home pay$134,409
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $130,800 | $62.88 | $91,033 | $7,586 |
| 25th percentile | $151,970 | $73.06 | $103,258 | $8,605 |
| Median (50th) | $203,890 | $98.02 | $134,409 | $11,201 |
| 75th percentile | $221,290 | $106.39 | $145,107 | $12,092 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,580+ | $136.82 | $179,580 | $14,965 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $203,890 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $134,409 take-home pay has the buying power of $116,258 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 Francisco, CA has 2.4× 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 Francisco, CA ranks #6 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 |
*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 Diego, CA — $174,440
- Los Angeles, CA — $158,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in San Francisco, CA?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $203,890 a year, or about $98.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $151,970 and $221,290.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $203,890 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $134,409 a year ($11,201 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $17,383 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $116,258 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #6 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Aerospace Engineer — $191,260
- Electrical Engineer — $166,030
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $162,440
- Mechanical Engineer — $161,370
- Engineers, All Other — $159,800
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer — $140,660
- Environmental Engineer — $138,840
- Industrial Engineer — $132,230
- Civil Engineer — $130,160
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $126,550
- Surveyor — $125,060
- Landscape Architect — $119,730