Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Washington
Computer Hardware Engineers in Washington earn a median of $169,120 a year ($81.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,210 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $161,740. Washington ranks 2nd of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.51 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $178,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,120 | $48.14 |
| 25th percentile | $132,070 | $63.50 |
| Median | $169,120 | $81.31 |
| 75th percentile | $210,230 | $101.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $260,210 | $125.10 |
| Average (mean) | $178,320 | $85.73 |
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 | $14,093.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,046.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,504.62 |
| Weekly | $3,252.31 |
| Hourly | $81.31 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $169,120 | 1,410 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $122,840 | 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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $110,000 | $52.89 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $110,430 | $53.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $132,710 | $63.81 |
| Industrial Engineer | $129,050 | $62.04 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $158,370 | $76.14 |
| Engineers, All Other | $134,570 | $64.70 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,270 | $62.63 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,460 | $60.32 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $129,480 | $62.25 |
| Materials Engineer | $139,840 | $67.23 |
| Chemical Engineer | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $126,590 | $60.86 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $109,550 | $52.67 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $134,800 | $64.81 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in Washington is $169,120 a year, or $81.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $260,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Washington?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in Washington earn at least $260,210 a year. The top 25% earn $210,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,120 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $132,070 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Washington?
About 1,800 computer hardware engineers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.