Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in San Jose, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $209,860 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $138,173 take-home, or $11,514 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$39,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,132
- California income tax$15,287
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,728
- Take-home pay$138,173
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $141,590 | $68.07 | $97,264 | $8,105 |
| 25th percentile | $171,200 | $82.31 | $114,364 | $9,530 |
| Median (50th) | $209,860 | $100.89 | $138,173 | $11,514 |
| 75th percentile | $230,510 | $110.82 | $150,182 | $12,515 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,400+ | $136.73 | $179,487 | $14,957 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $209,860 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $138,173 take-home pay has the buying power of $125,131 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 Jose, CA has 14.2× 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
San Jose, CA ranks #2 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 Francisco, CA — $203,890
- San Diego, CA — $174,440
- Los Angeles, CA — $158,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in San Jose, CA?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $209,860 a year, or about $100.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $171,200 and $230,510.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $209,860 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $138,173 a year ($11,514 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $18,016 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $125,131 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $194,370
- Electrical Engineer — $187,060
- Aerospace Engineer — $181,630
- Engineers, All Other — $169,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $168,030
- Materials Engineer — $156,730
- Industrial Engineer — $136,950
- Civil Engineer — $130,280
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $129,640
- Electrical and Electronics Drafter — $115,530
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician — $96,680
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $95,280