Computer Hardware Engineer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $203,890 a year ($98.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $130,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,580 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 10% higher than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 1.2 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $198,010, close to the median.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $130,800 | $62.88 |
| 25th percentile | $151,970 | $73.06 |
| Median | $203,890 | $98.02 |
| 75th percentile | $221,290 | $106.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,580 | $136.82 |
| Average (mean) | $198,010 | $95.20 |
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 | $16,990.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,495.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,841.92 |
| Weekly | $3,920.96 |
| Hourly | $98.02 |
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 Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,440 | 3,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $158,530 | 1,870 |
| 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Industrial Engineer | $132,230 | $63.57 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $161,370 | $77.58 |
| Engineers, All Other | $159,800 | $76.83 |
| Electrical Engineer | $166,030 | $79.82 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,440 | $78.10 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $140,660 | $67.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $138,840 | $66.75 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $191,260 | $91.95 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $147,220 | $70.78 |
| Materials Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $140,520 | $67.56 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $173,790 | $83.55 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $143,590 | $69.03 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $203,890 a year, or $98.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $130,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $284,580 a year. The top 25% earn $221,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $130,800 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $151,970 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 2,810 computer hardware engineers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.