Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $148,440 a year ($71.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,730 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 20% lower than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 0.30 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.60). The average (mean) salary is $154,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| 25th percentile | $121,180 | $58.26 |
| Median | $148,440 | $71.36 |
| 75th percentile | $174,240 | $83.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,730 | $106.60 |
| Average (mean) | $154,060 | $74.07 |
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 | $12,370 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,185 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,709.23 |
| Weekly | $2,854.62 |
| Hourly | $71.36 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $158,530 | 1,870 |
| 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $119,980 | $57.68 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,650 | $65.70 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,130 | $58.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $119,790 | $57.59 |
| Electrical Engineer | $134,640 | $64.73 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $135,810 | $65.30 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $130,870 | $62.92 |
| Environmental Engineer | $122,380 | $58.84 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $103,820 | $49.92 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $73,930 | $35.54 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,510 | $41.11 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $83,040 | $39.92 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $84,410 | $40.58 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $148,440 a year, or $71.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $221,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $221,730 a year. The top 25% earn $174,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,320 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $121,180 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 60 computer hardware engineers are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.