Top 15 cities for computer hardware engineers by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $208,700 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $198,010 |
| Allentown, PA | $188,740 |
| Durham, NC | $185,400 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,820 |
| San Diego, CA | $177,800 |
| Boston, MA | $176,740 |
| Austin, TX | $174,450 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $168,950 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $168,850 |
| New York, NY | $167,920 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $164,390 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $164,320 |
| Boulder, CO | $162,060 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $159,960 |
Map: Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro area
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by state
California pays computer hardware engineers the most statewide, $190,590 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $190,590 | $185,180 | 19,820 | 9 | $208,700 | $127,700 |
| Pennsylvania | n/a | n/a | 1,610 | 1 | $188,740 | $188,740 |
| Washington | $178,320 | $169,120 | 1,800 | 2 | $180,820 | $117,890 |
| Massachusetts | $177,030 | $167,600 | 3,150 | 2 | $176,740 | $158,400 |
| Connecticut | n/a | n/a | 340 | 4 | $168,850 | $118,100 |
| New York | $164,770 | $163,470 | 3,020 | 5 | $167,920 | $126,540 |
| New Mexico | $163,890 | $165,350 | 5,260 | 1 | $116,100 | $116,100 |
| Washington, D.C. | $162,180 | $163,360 | 210 | 1 | $157,210 | $157,210 |
| Texas | $161,360 | $163,860 | 7,390 | 4 | $174,450 | $128,300 |
| Colorado | $158,480 | $156,080 | 2,660 | 4 | $168,950 | $146,080 |
| Arizona | $157,800 | $158,280 | 3,110 | 2 | $159,960 | $133,310 |
| Maryland | $149,020 | $152,730 | 1,720 | 2 | $150,470 | $130,330 |
| New Jersey | $146,990 | $142,880 | 580 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hawaii | $144,240 | $159,880 | 90 | 1 | $137,430 | $137,430 |
| North Carolina | $144,050 | $134,670 | 1,340 | 4 | $185,400 | $119,860 |
| Virginia | $143,280 | $139,030 | 1,720 | 3 | $133,680 | $122,310 |
| Delaware | $142,200 | $135,690 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oregon | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $141,820 | $141,820 |
| Illinois | $138,940 | $133,220 | 1,420 | 1 | $139,310 | $139,310 |
| Alabama | $138,870 | $136,990 | 680 | 2 | $140,060 | $128,670 |
| Idaho | $138,160 | $131,570 | 920 | 1 | $140,530 | $140,530 |
| Florida | $137,810 | $134,160 | 3,290 | 6 | $149,930 | $119,320 |
| Nebraska | $137,560 | $134,950 | 80 | 1 | $138,330 | $138,330 |
| Iowa | $137,120 | $125,120 | 130 | 1 | $164,320 | $164,320 |
| New Hampshire | $135,050 | $129,140 | 310 | 1 | $149,900 | $149,900 |
| Minnesota | $134,690 | $134,300 | 770 | 1 | $137,750 | $137,750 |
| Tennessee | $130,460 | $130,830 | n/a | 1 | $132,870 | $132,870 |
| Ohio | $127,770 | $118,160 | 580 | 5 | $138,250 | $115,540 |
| Michigan | $127,070 | $119,670 | 1,420 | 3 | $131,940 | $108,800 |
| South Carolina | $124,320 | $125,110 | 690 | 3 | $129,420 | $123,560 |
| Rhode Island | $123,300 | $119,510 | 390 | 1 | $129,070 | $129,070 |
| Arkansas | $120,220 | $120,290 | 160 | 1 | $125,260 | $125,260 |
| Nevada | $117,110 | $116,530 | 160 | 1 | $113,930 | $113,930 |
| Utah | $114,910 | $106,950 | 430 | 2 | $140,340 | $99,540 |
| Georgia | $112,190 | $100,210 | 650 | 1 | $114,280 | $114,280 |
| Missouri | $111,220 | $103,980 | 900 | 3 | $115,470 | $105,790 |
| South Dakota | $110,880 | $101,400 | 160 | 1 | $101,070 | $101,070 |
| Kansas | $110,430 | $101,750 | 220 | 1 | $109,330 | $109,330 |
| Kentucky | $109,310 | $116,200 | 500 | 2 | $116,080 | $113,820 |
| Oklahoma | $108,240 | $95,600 | 180 | 2 | $114,070 | $99,590 |
| Indiana | $105,270 | $98,350 | 320 | 1 | $114,640 | $114,640 |
| Wisconsin | $101,690 | $83,670 | 270 | 2 | $102,920 | $102,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $96,540 | $85,660 | 370 | 2 | $103,310 | $88,440 |
| Mississippi | $93,650 | $78,320 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Louisiana | $93,200 | $83,550 | 270 | 1 | $88,420 | $88,420 |
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $208,700 | $209,860 | $100.34 | 7,940 |
| San Francisco, CA | $198,010 | $203,890 | $95.20 | 2,810 |
| Allentown, PA | $188,740 | $172,210 | $90.74 | 190 |
| Durham, NC | $185,400 | $175,110 | $89.13 | 430 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,820 | $169,120 | $86.93 | 1,410 |
| San Diego, CA | $177,800 | $174,440 | $85.48 | 3,330 |
| Boston, MA | $176,740 | $167,600 | $84.97 | 2,840 |
| Austin, TX | $174,450 | $165,530 | $83.87 | 3,850 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $168,950 | $168,990 | $81.23 | 490 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $168,850 | $202,390 | $81.18 | 120 |
| New York, NY | $167,920 | $160,300 | $80.73 | 1,780 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $164,390 | $158,530 | $79.04 | 1,870 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $164,320 | $161,160 | $79.00 | 60 |
| Boulder, CO | $162,060 | $161,720 | $77.91 | 650 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $159,960 | $167,010 | $76.91 | 2,820 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $159,600 | $169,370 | $76.73 | 80 |
| Worcester, MA | $158,400 | $142,780 | $76.16 | 140 |
| Denver, CO | $157,600 | $144,660 | $75.77 | 970 |
| Washington, DC | $157,210 | $159,480 | $75.58 | 1,790 |
| Dallas, TX | $156,150 | $162,870 | $75.07 | 1,570 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $154,060 | $148,440 | $74.07 | 60 |
| Baltimore, MD | $150,470 | $156,750 | $72.34 | 740 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $149,930 | $150,530 | $72.08 | 500 |
| Manchester, NH | $149,900 | $174,140 | $72.07 | 130 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $146,080 | $136,920 | $70.23 | 490 |
| Syracuse, NY | $143,370 | $141,180 | $68.93 | 100 |
| Riverside, CA | $143,240 | $134,060 | $68.87 | 200 |
| Utica, NY | $142,890 | $151,330 | $68.70 | 90 |
| Bend, OR | $141,820 | $140,390 | $68.18 | 40 |
| Orlando, FL | $141,050 | $136,300 | $67.81 | 650 |
| Boise, ID | $140,530 | $131,570 | $67.56 | 830 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $140,340 | $132,660 | $67.47 | 140 |
| Huntsville, AL | $140,060 | $142,670 | $67.34 | 560 |
| Chicago, IL | $139,310 | $133,860 | $66.97 | 1,080 |
| Miami, FL | $138,630 | $135,220 | $66.65 | 460 |
| Omaha, NE | $138,330 | $136,600 | $66.51 | 60 |
| Columbus, OH | $138,250 | $120,950 | $66.47 | 90 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $137,750 | $134,300 | $66.23 | 550 |
| Honolulu, HI | $137,430 | $143,020 | $66.07 | 60 |
| Houston, TX | $136,160 | $137,740 | $65.46 | 840 |
| Raleigh, NC | $134,440 | $130,540 | $64.63 | 310 |
| Richmond, VA | $133,680 | $132,270 | $64.27 | 70 |
| Crestview, FL | $133,440 | $128,060 | $64.16 | 120 |
| Tucson, AZ | $133,310 | $129,340 | $64.09 | 180 |
| Nashville, TN | $132,870 | $137,450 | $63.88 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $132,360 | $131,710 | $63.63 | 280 |
| Detroit, MI | $131,940 | $129,990 | $63.43 | 1,060 |
| Buffalo, NY | $131,180 | $130,050 | $63.07 | 110 |
| Hartford, CT | $131,050 | $122,860 | $63.01 | 100 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $130,330 | $127,620 | $62.66 | 210 |
| Oxnard, CA | $129,860 | $127,730 | $62.43 | 380 |
| Charleston, SC | $129,420 | $133,430 | $62.22 | 270 |
| Providence, RI | $129,070 | $125,060 | $62.05 | 460 |
| Montgomery, AL | $128,670 | $134,190 | $61.86 | 40 |
| Akron, OH | $128,420 | $118,130 | $61.74 | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | $128,300 | $126,510 | $61.68 | 150 |
| Columbia, SC | $128,250 | $129,830 | $61.66 | 70 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $128,130 | $117,040 | $61.60 | 50 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $127,700 | $126,460 | $61.39 | 160 |
| Rochester, NY | $126,540 | $120,550 | $60.84 | 100 |
| Tampa, FL | $125,560 | $125,680 | $60.37 | 580 |
| Cleveland, OH | $125,390 | $119,450 | $60.28 | 110 |
| Little Rock, AR | $125,260 | $124,510 | $60.22 | 70 |
| Greenville, SC | $123,560 | $119,670 | $59.40 | 90 |
| Charlotte, NC | $122,930 | $108,480 | $59.10 | 240 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $122,310 | $113,510 | $58.81 | 40 |
| Dayton, OH | $122,110 | $121,030 | $58.71 | 220 |
| New Haven, CT | $120,660 | $108,060 | $58.01 | 40 |
| Greensboro, NC | $119,860 | $123,950 | $57.63 | 70 |
| Panama City, FL | $119,320 | $121,160 | $57.36 | 110 |
| Waterbury, CT | $118,100 | $93,590 | $56.78 | 30 |
| Bremerton, WA | $117,890 | $122,840 | $56.68 | 40 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $116,100 | $117,150 | $55.82 | 90 |
| Lexington, KY | $116,080 | $123,370 | $55.81 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $115,540 | $109,120 | $55.55 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO | $115,470 | $112,490 | $55.52 | 540 |
| Kansas City, MO | $114,880 | $108,360 | $55.23 | 310 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $114,640 | $102,880 | $55.12 | 70 |
| Atlanta, GA | $114,280 | $100,220 | $54.94 | 530 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $114,070 | $96,080 | $54.84 | 120 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $113,930 | $115,220 | $54.77 | 130 |
| Louisville, KY | $113,820 | $126,180 | $54.72 | 160 |
| Wichita, KS | $109,330 | $105,680 | $52.56 | 50 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $108,800 | $106,370 | $52.31 | 60 |
| Springfield, MO | $105,790 | $102,360 | $50.86 | n/a |
| Aguadilla, PR | $103,310 | $98,520 | $49.67 | 200 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $102,920 | $99,010 | $49.48 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $102,140 | $82,200 | $49.11 | 120 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $101,070 | $99,720 | $48.59 | 110 |
| Tulsa, OK | $99,590 | $91,290 | $47.88 | 40 |
| Logan, UT | $99,540 | $99,570 | $47.85 | 30 |
| San Juan, PR | $88,440 | $81,830 | $42.52 | n/a |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $88,420 | $83,550 | $42.51 | 100 |
Related jobs
- Civil EngineersU.S. average $108,670
- Electrical EngineersU.S. average $125,100
- Industrial EngineersU.S. average $109,900
- Mechanical EngineersU.S. average $113,610
- Engineers, All OtherU.S. average $125,330
- Aerospace EngineersU.S. average $142,060
- Chemical EngineersU.S. average $129,980
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerU.S. average $137,280
Computer Hardware Engineers salary: questions
Where do computer hardware engineers make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $208,700 a year, among the 93 metro areas we cover.
What is the average computer hardware engineers salary in the U.S.?
$162,670 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $161,740, so half of computer hardware engineers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should computer hardware engineers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of computer hardware engineers nationwide earn between $126,090 (25th percentile) and $202,990 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays computer hardware engineers the most?
California, with a statewide average of $190,590 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is computer hardware engineers pay the lowest?
Baton Rouge, LA, at $88,420 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2061.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.