Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $169,370 a year ($81.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $89,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,600 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 0.79 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $159,600, close to the median.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,080 | $42.83 |
| 25th percentile | $107,120 | $51.50 |
| Median | $169,370 | $81.43 |
| 75th percentile | $214,600 | $103.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,600 | $103.17 |
| Average (mean) | $159,600 | $76.73 |
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 | $14,114.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,057.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,514.23 |
| Weekly | $3,257.12 |
| Hourly | $81.43 |
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 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $118,050 | $56.76 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,920 | $63.91 |
| Engineers, All Other | $141,150 | $67.86 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Electrical Engineer | $133,560 | $64.21 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $182,840 | $87.90 |
| Environmental Engineer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $67,930 | $32.66 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $169,370 a year, or $81.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $89,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $214,600 a year. The top 25% earn $214,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $89,080 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $107,120 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 80 computer hardware engineers are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.