Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$92,940
- 25th Percentile — Junior$126,090
- 50th Percentile — Median$161,740
- 75th Percentile — Senior$202,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$225,330
The top 10% of Computer Hardware Engineers earn $225,330 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $92,940, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska (est.) | $214,724 | +32.0% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $198,457 | +22.0% |
| California | $190,590 | +17.2% |
| Oregon (est.) | $182,190 | +12.0% |
| Washington | $178,320 | +9.6% |
| Massachusetts | $177,030 | +8.8% |
| Vermont (est.) | $175,684 | +8.0% |
| Maine (est.) | $165,923 | +2.0% |
| New York | $164,770 | +1.3% |
| New Mexico | $163,890 | +0.7% |
| District of Columbia | $162,180 | -0.3% |
| Texas | $161,360 | -0.8% |
| Pennsylvania (est.) | $161,043 | -1.0% |
| Colorado | $158,480 | -2.6% |
| Arizona | $157,800 | -3.0% |
| Montana (est.) | $154,536 | -5.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $151,283 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $149,656 | -8.0% |
| Maryland | $149,020 | -8.4% |
| New Jersey | $146,990 | -9.6% |
| Hawaii | $144,240 | -11.3% |
| North Carolina | $144,050 | -11.4% |
| Virginia | $143,280 | -11.9% |
| Delaware | $142,200 | -12.6% |
| Illinois | $138,940 | -14.6% |
| Alabama | $138,870 | -14.6% |
| Idaho | $138,160 | -15.1% |
| Florida | $137,810 | -15.3% |
| Nebraska | $137,560 | -15.4% |
| Iowa | $137,120 | -15.7% |
| New Hampshire | $135,050 | -17.0% |
| Minnesota | $134,690 | -17.2% |
| Tennessee | $130,460 | -19.8% |
| Ohio | $127,770 | -21.5% |
| Michigan | $127,070 | -21.9% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $126,883 | -22.0% |
| South Carolina | $124,320 | -23.6% |
| Rhode Island | $123,300 | -24.2% |
| Arkansas | $120,220 | -26.1% |
| Nevada | $117,110 | -28.0% |
| Utah | $114,910 | -29.4% |
| Georgia | $112,190 | -31.0% |
| Missouri | $111,220 | -31.6% |
| South Dakota | $110,880 | -31.8% |
| Kansas | $110,430 | -32.1% |
| Kentucky | $109,310 | -32.8% |
| Oklahoma | $108,240 | -33.5% |
| Indiana | $105,270 | -35.3% |
| Wisconsin | $101,690 | -37.5% |
| Mississippi | $93,650 | -42.4% |
| Louisiana | $93,200 | -42.7% |
What Factors Affect Computer Hardware Engineers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Computer Hardware Engineers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $190,590, while Louisiana pays $93,200 — a gap of $97,390 per year.
The middle half of Computer Hardware Engineers earn between $126,090 and $202,990 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $92,940, while the top 10% earn more than $225,330.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Related career salary benchmarks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Computer Hardware Engineers?
The average salary for Computer Hardware Engineers in the United States is $162,670 per year, with a median of $161,740.
What is the starting salary for Computer Hardware Engineers?
Entry-level Computer Hardware Engineers typically earn between $92,940 and $126,090 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Computer Hardware Engineers the most?
California pays Computer Hardware Engineers the most at $190,590 per year on average, followed by Washington ($178,320) and Massachusetts ($177,030).
How much do Computer Hardware Engineers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $162,670, Computer Hardware Engineers earn approximately $78.21 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Computer Hardware Engineers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 76,660 Computer Hardware Engineers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $162,670 and a median of $161,740 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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