Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $108,480 a year ($52.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,130 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 19% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $134,670. There are 0.18 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.36). The average (mean) salary is $122,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| 25th percentile | $76,020 | $36.55 |
| Median | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| 75th percentile | $139,690 | $67.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,130 | $98.14 |
| Average (mean) | $122,930 | $59.10 |
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 | $9,040 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,520 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,172.31 |
| Weekly | $2,086.15 |
| Hourly | $52.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $175,110 | 430 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $133,430 | 270 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $131,710 | 280 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,540 | 310 |
| Columbia, SC | $129,830 | 70 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $123,950 | 70 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $119,670 | 90 |
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 |
See Computer Hardware Engineer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $102,370 | $49.22 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,090 | $49.08 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $101,950 | $49.02 |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,360 | $49.69 |
| Engineers, All Other | $118,230 | $56.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $107,630 | $51.74 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| Materials Engineer | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Chemical Engineer | $115,890 | $55.72 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $132,830 | $63.86 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $97,670 | $46.96 |
| Environmental Engineer | $82,840 | $39.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $113,130 | $54.39 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $98,620 | $47.41 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $108,480 a year, or $52.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $204,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $204,130 a year. The top 25% earn $139,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,960 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $76,020 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 240 computer hardware engineers are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.