How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Santa Cruz?
$169,400a year
Median yearly pay for computer hardware engineers in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $81.43 an hour or $14,110 a month.
- Hourly
- $81.43
- Vs. national median
- +5%
- Rank among cities
- 8 of 93
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $89,080Median: $169,400Highest 10%: $214,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $89,080 | $42.83 | |
| 25th | $107,100 | $51.50 | |
| Median | $169,400 | $81.43 | |
| 75th | $214,600 | $103.17 | |
| 90th | $214,600 | $103.17 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for computer hardware engineers.
| San Jose, CA | $209,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $203,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $174,400 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Engineer | $141,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $133,600 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $132,900 |
| Industrial Engineer | $131,700 |
| Civil Engineer | $118,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $81.43 ($169,400 a year).
Do computer hardware engineers make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $169,400 against $161,700 nationally, 5% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $185,200, so Santa Cruz pays 9% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for computer hardware engineer pay?
8 of 93 metro areas with data.
How much does a computer hardware engineer make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $89,080 or less a year; the top 10% make $214,600 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.