Computer Hardware Engineer salary in the U.S.
Computer Hardware Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $161,740 a year ($77.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 76,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $92,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,330 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $162,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,940 | $44.68 |
| 25th percentile | $126,090 | $60.62 |
| Median | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| 75th percentile | $202,990 | $97.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,330 | $108.33 |
| Average (mean) | $162,670 | $78.21 |
Half of computer hardware engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,478.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,739.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,220.77 |
| Weekly | $3,110.38 |
| Hourly | $77.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $185,180 | 19,820 |
| Washington | $169,120 | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $165,350 | 5,260 |
| Texas | $163,860 | 7,390 |
| New York | $163,470 | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $159,880 | 90 |
| Arizona | $158,280 | 3,110 |
| Colorado | $156,080 | 2,660 |
| Maryland | $152,730 | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $142,880 | 580 |
| Virginia | $139,030 | 1,720 |
| Alabama | $136,990 | 680 |
| Delaware | $135,690 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $134,950 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $134,670 | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $134,300 | 770 |
| Florida | $134,160 | 3,290 |
| Illinois | $133,220 | 1,420 |
| Idaho | $131,570 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $130,830 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $129,140 | 310 |
| Iowa | $125,120 | 130 |
| South Carolina | $125,110 | 690 |
| Arkansas | $120,290 | 160 |
| Michigan | $119,670 | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $119,510 | 390 |
| Ohio | $118,160 | 580 |
| Nevada | $116,530 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $116,200 | 500 |
| Utah | $106,950 | 430 |
| Missouri | $103,980 | 900 |
| Kansas | $101,750 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $101,400 | 160 |
| Georgia | $100,210 | 650 |
| Indiana | $98,350 | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $95,600 | 180 |
| Puerto Rico | $85,660 | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $83,670 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $83,550 | 270 |
| Mississippi | $78,320 | 150 |
Best-paying metro areas for computer hardware engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $209,860 | 7,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,890 | 2,810 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $202,390 | 120 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $175,110 | 430 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,440 | 3,330 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $174,140 | 130 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $172,210 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $169,120 | 1,410 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $168,990 | 490 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $167,600 | 2,840 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $167,010 | 2,820 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $165,530 | 3,850 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $162,870 | 1,570 |
| Boulder, CO | $161,720 | 650 |
Metro areas with the most computer hardware engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,940 | $209,860 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 3,850 | $165,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,330 | $174,440 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,840 | $167,600 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,820 | $167,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,810 | $203,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,870 | $158,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,790 | $159,480 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,780 | $160,300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,570 | $162,870 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,410 | $169,120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,080 | $133,860 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,060 | $129,990 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 970 | $144,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 840 | $137,740 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $133,970 | $64.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the U.S. is $161,740 a year, or $77.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $92,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the U.S. earn at least $225,330 a year. The top 25% earn $202,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $92,940 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $126,090 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in the U.S.?
About 76,660 computer hardware engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.