How much does a computer hardware engineer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $77.76 an hour or $13,480 a month.
- Hourly
- $77.76
- Average (mean)
- $162,700
- Jobs
- 76,660
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $92,940 | $44.68 | |
| 25th | $126,100 | $60.62 | |
| Median | $161,700 | $77.76 | |
| 75th | $203,000 | $97.59 | |
| 90th | $225,300 | $108.33 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| California | $185,200 |
| Washington | $169,100 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 |
| New Mexico | $165,400 |
| Texas | $163,900 |
| New York | $163,500 |
| District of Columbia | $163,400 |
| Hawaii | $159,900 |
| Arizona | $158,300 |
| Colorado | $156,100 |
| Maryland | $152,700 |
| New Jersey | $142,900 |
| Virginia | $139,000 |
| Alabama | $137,000 |
| Delaware | $135,700 |
| Nebraska | $135,000 |
| North Carolina | $134,700 |
| Minnesota | $134,300 |
| Florida | $134,200 |
| Illinois | $133,200 |
| Idaho | $131,600 |
| Tennessee | $130,800 |
| New Hampshire | $129,100 |
| Iowa | $125,100 |
| South Carolina | $125,100 |
| Arkansas | $120,300 |
| Michigan | $119,700 |
| Rhode Island | $119,500 |
| Ohio | $118,200 |
| Nevada | $116,500 |
| Kentucky | $116,200 |
| Utah | $107,000 |
| Missouri | $104,000 |
| Kansas | $101,800 |
| South Dakota | $101,400 |
| Georgia | $100,200 |
| Indiana | $98,350 |
| Oklahoma | $95,600 |
| Wisconsin | $83,670 |
| Louisiana | $83,550 |
| Mississippi | $78,320 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $209,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $203,900 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $202,400 |
| Durham, NC | $175,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $174,400 |
| Manchester, NH | $174,100 |
| Allentown, PA | $172,200 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $169,400 |
| Seattle, WA | $169,100 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $169,000 |
| Boston, MA | $167,600 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $167,000 |
| Austin, TX | $165,500 |
| Dallas, TX | $162,900 |
| Boulder, CO | $161,700 |
In other countries
Computer Hardware Engineer belongs to the international group "Electronics engineers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Aerospace Engineer$135,000
- Agricultural Engineer$98,590
- Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer$109,400
- Chemical Engineer$125,000
- Civil Engineer$100,800
- Electrical Engineer$120,600
- Electronics Engineer$130,200
- Environmental Engineer$107,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $77.76 ($161,700 a year).
How much does a computer hardware engineer make a month?
About $13,480 a month before tax, based on a median of $161,700 a year.
How much does a computer hardware engineer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $92,940 or less a year ($44.68 an hour); the top 10% make $225,300 or more.
Which state pays computer hardware engineers the most?
California, with a median of $185,200 a year, followed by Washington ($169,100) and Massachusetts ($167,600).
Which city pays computer hardware engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $209,900 a year.
How many computer hardware engineers are there in the United States?
About 76,660 people work as computer hardware engineers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.