Computer Hardware Engineer salary in South Carolina
Computer Hardware Engineers in South Carolina earn a median of $125,110 a year ($60.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,540 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $161,740. South Carolina ranks 25th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.30 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $124,320, close to the median.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| 25th percentile | $102,540 | $49.30 |
| Median | $125,110 | $60.15 |
| 75th percentile | $139,930 | $67.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,540 | $82.47 |
| Average (mean) | $124,320 | $59.77 |
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 | $10,425.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,212.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,811.92 |
| Weekly | $2,405.96 |
| Hourly | $60.15 |
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 South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $133,430 | 270 |
| Columbia, SC | $129,830 | 70 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $119,670 | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $108,480 | 240 |
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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Civil Engineer | $101,600 | $48.85 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,580 | $50.28 |
| Electrical Engineer | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,490 | $53.12 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $113,720 | $54.67 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $137,030 | $65.88 |
| Materials Engineer | $121,610 | $58.47 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,140 | $46.22 |
| Chemical Engineer | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,120 | $50.06 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $136,990 | $65.86 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in South Carolina is $125,110 a year, or $60.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in South Carolina earn at least $171,540 a year. The top 25% earn $139,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,990 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $102,540 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in South Carolina?
About 690 computer hardware engineers are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.