Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Virginia
Computer Hardware Engineers in Virginia earn a median of $139,030 a year ($66.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $87,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,290 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $161,740. Virginia ranks 13th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.42 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $143,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,630 | $42.13 |
| 25th percentile | $105,820 | $50.87 |
| Median | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| 75th percentile | $175,140 | $84.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,290 | $93.89 |
| Average (mean) | $143,280 | $68.88 |
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 | $11,585.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,792.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,347.31 |
| Weekly | $2,673.65 |
| Hourly | $66.84 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $159,480 | 1,790 |
| Richmond, VA | $132,270 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $131,710 | 280 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $113,510 | 40 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $97,120 | $46.69 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,180 | $50.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $119,030 | $57.23 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,550 | $49.30 |
| Engineers, All Other | $148,160 | $71.23 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $119,990 | $57.69 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $143,210 | $68.85 |
| Environmental Engineer | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| Chemical Engineer | $136,380 | $65.57 |
| Materials Engineer | $116,720 | $56.12 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $104,960 | $50.46 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,890 | $61.97 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in Virginia is $139,030 a year, or $66.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $87,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in Virginia earn at least $195,290 a year. The top 25% earn $175,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $87,630 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $105,820 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Virginia?
About 1,720 computer hardware engineers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.