Computer Hardware Engineer salary in California
Computer Hardware Engineers in California earn a median of $185,180 a year ($89.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $126,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $281,210 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $161,740. California ranks 1st of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.1 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $190,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| 25th percentile | $150,700 | $72.45 |
| Median | $185,180 | $89.03 |
| 75th percentile | $219,980 | $105.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $281,210 | $135.20 |
| Average (mean) | $190,590 | $91.63 |
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 | $15,431.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,715.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,122.31 |
| Weekly | $3,561.15 |
| Hourly | $89.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $209,860 | 7,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,890 | 2,810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,440 | 3,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $158,530 | 1,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $148,440 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $134,060 | 200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $127,730 | 380 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,460 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for computer hardware engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $185,180 |
| Washington | $169,120 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 |
| New Mexico | $165,350 |
| Texas | $163,860 |
| New York | $163,470 |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 |
| Hawaii | $159,880 |
| Arizona | $158,280 |
| Colorado | $156,080 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $122,500 | $58.89 |
| Industrial Engineer | $124,600 | $59.90 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $130,900 | $62.94 |
| Engineers, All Other | $130,850 | $62.91 |
| Electrical Engineer | $144,040 | $69.25 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $160,520 | $77.17 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,620 | $75.78 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,410 | $62.70 |
| Materials Engineer | $128,470 | $61.77 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,310 | $61.69 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $172,400 | $82.88 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $158,130 | $76.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in California is $185,180 a year, or $89.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $126,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $281,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in California?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in California earn at least $281,210 a year. The top 25% earn $219,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $126,590 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $150,700 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in California?
About 19,820 computer hardware engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.