How much does a computer hardware engineer make in San Diego?
$174,400a year
Median yearly pay for computer hardware engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $83.87 an hour or $14,540 a month.
- Hourly
- $83.87
- Vs. national median
- +8%
- Rank among cities
- 5 of 93
- Jobs in the area
- 3,330
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $122,900Median: $174,400Highest 10%: $227,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $122,900 | $59.09 | |
| 25th | $133,900 | $64.37 | |
| Median | $174,400 | $83.87 | |
| 75th | $218,200 | $104.88 | |
| 90th | $227,900 | $109.59 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for computer hardware engineers.
| San Jose, CA | $209,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $203,900 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Electronics Engineer | $156,500 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,000 |
| Engineer | $132,800 |
| Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer | $128,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,300 |
| Health and Safety Engineer | $124,700 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,200 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,800 |
| Architect | $120,000 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $83.87 ($174,400 a year).
Do computer hardware engineers make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $174,400 against $161,700 nationally, 8% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $185,200, so San Diego pays 6% less.
Where does San Diego rank for computer hardware engineer pay?
5 of 93 metro areas with data.
How much does a computer hardware engineer make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $122,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $227,900 or more.
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.