Computer Hardware Engineer salary in District of Columbia
Computer Hardware Engineers in District of Columbia earn a median of $163,360 a year ($78.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,950 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $161,740. District of Columbia ranks 7th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.30 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $162,180, close to the median.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,690 | $48.41 |
| 25th percentile | $136,660 | $65.70 |
| Median | $163,360 | $78.54 |
| 75th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $211,950 | $101.90 |
| Average (mean) | $162,180 | $77.97 |
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 | $13,613.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,806.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,283.08 |
| Weekly | $3,141.54 |
| Hourly | $78.54 |
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 District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $159,480 | 1,790 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $151,920 | $73.04 |
| Civil Engineer | $103,880 | $49.94 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $133,300 | $64.09 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $172,330 | $82.85 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $157,040 | $75.50 |
| Electrical Engineer | $143,000 | $68.75 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $157,600 | $75.77 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Industrial Engineer | $103,300 | $49.66 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $97,880 | $47.06 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $97,620 | $46.93 |
| Landscape Architect | $85,100 | $40.91 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in District of Columbia is $163,360 a year, or $78.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $211,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in District of Columbia earn at least $211,950 a year. The top 25% earn $195,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,690 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $136,660 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in District of Columbia?
About 210 computer hardware engineers are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.