Computer Hardware Engineer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $209,860 a year ($100.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $141,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,400 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 13% higher than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 7.0 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 14.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $208,700, close to the median.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $141,590 | $68.07 |
| 25th percentile | $171,200 | $82.31 |
| Median | $209,860 | $100.89 |
| 75th percentile | $230,510 | $110.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,400 | $136.73 |
| Average (mean) | $208,700 | $100.34 |
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 | $17,488.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,744.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,071.54 |
| Weekly | $4,035.77 |
| Hourly | $100.89 |
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 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 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $194,370 | $93.45 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,030 | $80.79 |
| Engineers, All Other | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Industrial Engineer | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,060 | $89.93 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,630 | $87.32 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $136,450 | $65.60 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $143,050 | $68.77 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $90,660 | $43.59 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $129,640 | $62.33 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $209,860 a year, or $100.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $141,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $284,400 a year. The top 25% earn $230,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $141,590 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $171,200 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 7,940 computer hardware engineers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.