Average Computer Hardware Engineers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Computer Hardware Engineers is $161,740 per year. The middle 50% earn between $126,090 and $202,990, with 76,660 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 45 states and 101 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Computer Hardware Engineers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $92,940
- 25th
- $126,090
- Median
- $161,740
- 75th
- $202,990
- 90th
- $225,330
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Computer Hardware Engineers are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for computer hardware engineers from 2024 to 2034. Growth is above the US average of about 4% across all occupations. This is an expanding field.
- Projected growth
- +7.3%
- 5,600 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 4,700
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for computer hardware engineers.
Where Computer Hardware Engineers earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is California at $185,180, about 14.5% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $209,860.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $185,180 | 19,820 |
| Washington | $169,120 | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $165,350 | 5,260 |
| Texas | $163,860 | 7,390 |
| New York | $163,470 | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $159,880 | 90 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $209,860 | 7,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,890 | 2,810 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $202,390 | 120 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $175,110 | 430 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,440 | 3,330 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $174,140 | 130 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $172,210 | 190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see computer hardware engineers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Computer Hardware Engineers rose from $117,220 to $161,740, a gain of +38.0% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $117,220 would need to be worth $147,612 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $161,740 is $14,128 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +9.6% in purchasing power.
Real wages have grown strongly, 9.6% above inflation. Workers in this field have meaningfully gained purchasing power.
- Nominal change
- +38.0%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- +9.6%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Computer Hardware Engineers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $161,740
- 2024
- $155,020
- 2023
- $138,080
- 2022
- $132,360
- 2021
- $128,170
- 2020
- $119,560
- 2019
- $117,220
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Aerospace Engineers
- $134,960
- Chemical Engineers
- $125,040
- Electrical Engineers
- $120,630
- Environmental Engineers
- $107,110
- Civil Engineers
- $100,840
- Agricultural Engineers
- $98,590
Common salary questions for Computer Hardware Engineers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Computer Hardware Engineers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.