Computer Hardware Engineer salary in North Carolina
Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina earn a median of $134,670 a year ($64.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $234,390 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $161,740. North Carolina ranks 17th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.27 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $144,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,310 | $35.72 |
| 25th percentile | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| Median | $134,670 | $64.74 |
| 75th percentile | $178,360 | $85.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $234,390 | $112.69 |
| Average (mean) | $144,050 | $69.26 |
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 | $11,222.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,611.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,179.62 |
| Weekly | $2,589.81 |
| Hourly | $64.74 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $175,110 | 430 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $131,710 | 280 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,540 | 310 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $123,950 | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $108,480 | 240 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,730 | $48.43 |
| Industrial Engineer | $99,310 | $47.74 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,720 | $48.42 |
| Electrical Engineer | $110,130 | $52.95 |
| Engineers, All Other | $112,450 | $54.06 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $115,920 | $55.73 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $94,790 | $45.57 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Materials Engineer | $104,240 | $50.11 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $106,800 | $51.34 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $131,850 | $63.39 |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,410 | $56.45 |
| Environmental Engineer | $99,440 | $47.81 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $70,310 | $33.80 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina is $134,670 a year, or $64.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,310 for the lowest-paid 10% to $234,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in North Carolina earn at least $234,390 a year. The top 25% earn $178,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,310 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $95,360 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in North Carolina?
About 1,340 computer hardware engineers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.