Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Wisconsin
Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin earn a median of $83,670 a year ($40.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,820 for the top 10%. That is 48% lower than the national median of $161,740. Wisconsin ranks 39th of 41 states for computer hardware engineers pay. There are 0.09 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.19). The average (mean) salary is $101,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| 25th percentile | $77,700 | $37.36 |
| Median | $83,670 | $40.23 |
| 75th percentile | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,820 | $83.09 |
| Average (mean) | $101,690 | $48.89 |
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 | $6,972.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,486.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,218.08 |
| Weekly | $1,609.04 |
| Hourly | $40.23 |
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 Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $134,300 | 550 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $99,010 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $82,200 | 120 |
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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $96,980 | $46.62 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $95,870 | $46.09 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,600 | $45.48 |
| Electrical Engineer | $99,700 | $47.93 |
| Environmental Engineer | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Engineers, All Other | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $93,710 | $45.05 |
| Materials Engineer | $96,210 | $46.25 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $92,700 | $44.57 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $110,430 | $53.09 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| Chemical Engineer | $97,660 | $46.95 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $95,950 | $46.13 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in Wisconsin is $83,670 a year, or $40.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in Wisconsin earn at least $172,820 a year. The top 25% earn $103,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,330 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $77,700 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Wisconsin?
About 270 computer hardware engineers are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.