Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Illinois
Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $133,220 a year ($64.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $210,100 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $161,740. Illinois ranks 20th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.23 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $138,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,420 | $37.22 |
| 25th percentile | $97,930 | $47.08 |
| Median | $133,220 | $64.05 |
| 75th percentile | $165,360 | $79.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $210,100 | $101.01 |
| Average (mean) | $138,940 | $66.80 |
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 | $11,101.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,550.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,123.85 |
| Weekly | $2,561.92 |
| Hourly | $64.05 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $133,860 | 1,080 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $112,490 | 540 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,680 | $49.37 |
| Electrical Engineer | $107,860 | $51.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $111,930 | $53.81 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Chemical Engineer | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| Materials Engineer | $126,620 | $60.87 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $89,520 | $43.04 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $108,940 | $52.38 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,690 | $51.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in Illinois is $133,220 a year, or $64.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $210,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in Illinois earn at least $210,100 a year. The top 25% earn $165,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,420 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $97,930 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Illinois?
About 1,420 computer hardware engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.