Computer Hardware Engineers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,630 or more. The middle half of computer hardware engineers in Charleston earn between $105,980 and $139,930.
- $81K10th
- $106K25th
- $133KMedian
- $140K75th
- $177K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,420 | $10,785 | $62.22 |
| Median | $133,430 | $11,119 | $64.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,980 | $8,832 | $50.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $139,930 | $11,661 | $67.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Computer hardware engineers in Charleston earn 4% more than the South Carolina average ($124,320) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($162,670). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $161,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $129,420 | $133,430 | $80,780 | $176,630 | 270 |
| South Carolina | $124,320 | $125,110 | $74,990 | $171,540 | 690 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $129,420, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $93,948 a year, or $7,829 a month and $3,613 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for computer hardware engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $129,420 buys what about $128,187 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$129,420
- Columbia$128,250
- Greenville$123,560
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
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Computer Hardware Engineers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do computer hardware engineers make an hour in Charleston?
$62.22 an hour on average, and $64.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer hardware engineers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer hardware engineers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $93,948 a year ($7,829 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,420.
Do computer hardware engineers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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