Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $158,530 a year ($76.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,470 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 14% lower than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 0.30 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $164,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,390 | $50.67 |
| 25th percentile | $131,130 | $63.04 |
| Median | $158,530 | $76.22 |
| 75th percentile | $198,360 | $95.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $222,470 | $106.96 |
| Average (mean) | $164,390 | $79.04 |
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 | $13,210.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,605.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,097.31 |
| Weekly | $3,048.65 |
| Hourly | $76.22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
See Computer Hardware Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,640 | $52.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $113,040 | $54.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $139,780 | $67.20 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $123,900 | $59.57 |
| Engineers, All Other | $125,060 | $60.13 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $163,280 | $78.50 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $140,530 | $67.56 |
| Materials Engineer | $125,200 | $60.19 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,240 | $61.65 |
| Environmental Engineer | $127,900 | $61.49 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $131,540 | $63.24 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $167,000 | $80.29 |
| Chemical Engineer | $134,210 | $64.52 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $144,230 | $69.34 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $158,530 a year, or $76.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $222,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $222,470 a year. The top 25% earn $198,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,390 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $131,130 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 1,870 computer hardware engineers are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.