Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Tampa, FL
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $125,680 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,168 take-home, or $8,097 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer hardware engineer salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,897
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,792
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,822
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$97,168
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,040 | $29.35 | $51,226 | $4,269 |
| 25th percentile | $80,030 | $38.48 | $65,131 | $5,428 |
| Median (50th) | $125,680 | $60.42 | $97,168 | $8,097 |
| 75th percentile | $164,260 | $78.97 | $123,538 | $10,295 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,990 | $99.03 | $153,339 | $12,778 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,680 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer hardware engineer's $97,168 take-home pay has the buying power of $96,311 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for computer hardware engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Tampa, FL | $125,680 | $97,168 | $96,311 |
*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 Florida
- Palm Bay, FL — $150,530
- Orlando, FL — $136,300
- Miami, FL — $135,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Tampa, FL?
The median computer hardware engineer salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $125,680 a year, or about $60.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,030 and $164,260.
What is a computer hardware engineer’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $125,680 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $97,168 a year ($8,097 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a computer hardware engineer?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $161,740. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $96,311 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #21 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer hardware engineer afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median computer hardware engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $104,690
- Electrical Engineer — $102,110
- Industrial Engineer — $100,670
- Civil Engineer — $100,570
- Mechanical Engineer — $100,290
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $94,610
- Engineers, All Other — $92,790
- Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician — $75,070
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $66,890
- Surveyor — $66,390
- Architectural and Civil Drafter — $65,160
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $59,500