Computer Hardware Engineers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $294,880 or more. The middle half of computer hardware engineers in Durham earn between $142,820 and $234,390.
- $100K10th
- $143K25th
- $175KMedian
- $234K75th
- $295K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $185,400 | $15,450 | $89.13 |
| Median | $175,110 | $14,592 | $84.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $142,820 | $11,902 | $68.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $234,390 | $19,532 | $112.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Computer hardware engineers in Durham earn 29% more than the North Carolina average ($144,050) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($162,670). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $161,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $185,400 | $175,110 | $99,900 | $294,880 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $144,050 | $134,670 | $74,310 | $234,390 | 1,340 |
| United States | $162,670 | $161,740 | $92,940 | $225,330 | 76,660 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $185,400, a single filer in Durham takes home about $131,154 a year, or $10,929 a month and $5,044 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for computer hardware engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $185,400 buys what about $190,014 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 4 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$185,400
- Raleigh$134,440
- Charlotte$122,930
- Greensboro$119,860
Highest-paying cities for computer hardware engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($208,700).
- San Jose, CA$208,700
- San Francisco, CA$198,010
- Allentown, PA$188,740
- Durham, NC$185,400
- Seattle, WA$180,820
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in Durham: questions
How much do computer hardware engineers make an hour in Durham?
$89.13 an hour on average, and $84.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer hardware engineers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $142,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer hardware engineers take-home pay in Durham?
About $131,154 a year ($10,929 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $185,400.
Do computer hardware engineers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($162,670).
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; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.56, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.