Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Rhode Island
Computer Hardware Engineers in Rhode Island earn a median of $119,510 a year ($57.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,570 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $161,740. Rhode Island ranks 28th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.78 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,620 | $38.76 |
| 25th percentile | $96,750 | $46.52 |
| Median | $119,510 | $57.46 |
| 75th percentile | $144,910 | $69.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,570 | $76.24 |
| Average (mean) | $123,300 | $59.28 |
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 | $9,959.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,979.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,596.54 |
| Weekly | $2,298.27 |
| Hourly | $57.46 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $125,060 | 460 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | $116,230 | $55.88 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,300 | $47.74 |
| Industrial Engineer | $109,350 | $52.57 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $136,360 | $65.56 |
| Engineers, All Other | $117,080 | $56.29 |
| Environmental Engineer | $101,140 | $48.63 |
| Chemical Engineer | $111,590 | $53.65 |
| Materials Engineer | $87,180 | $41.91 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $94,620 | $45.49 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $94,570 | $45.46 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $98,600 | $47.40 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $71,700 | $34.47 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,420 | $28.57 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in Rhode Island is $119,510 a year, or $57.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $158,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in Rhode Island earn at least $158,570 a year. The top 25% earn $144,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,620 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $96,750 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Rhode Island?
About 390 computer hardware engineers are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.