How much does a computer hardware engineer make in California?
$185,200a year
Median yearly pay for computer hardware engineers in California. That is $89.03 an hour or $15,430 a month.
- Hourly
- $89.03
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 41
- Jobs in the state
- 19,820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $126,600Median: $185,200Highest 10%: $281,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $126,600 | $60.86 | |
| 25th | $150,700 | $72.45 | |
| Median | $185,200 | $89.03 | |
| 75th | $220,000 | $105.76 | |
| 90th | $281,200 | $135.20 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $209,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $203,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $174,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $169,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $158,500 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $148,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $134,100 |
| Oxnard, CA | $127,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $126,500 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for computer hardware engineers.
| 1. California | $185,200 |
| 2. Washington | $169,100 |
| 3. Massachusetts | $167,600 |
| 4. New Mexico | $165,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $89.03 ($185,200 a year).
Do computer hardware engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $185,200 against $161,700 nationally, 14% more.
Where does California rank for computer hardware engineer pay?
California ranks 1 of 41 states.
Which city in California pays computer hardware engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $209,900 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.