Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 77K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$161,740
Median hourly
$78
Average annual
$162,670
Typical range
$92,940–$225,330
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Computer Hardware Engineers is $161,740 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $78 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components..
Most earn between $92,940 and $225,330 a year. There are roughly 77K people employed as computer hardware engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Computer Hardware Engineers.
- Hourly
- $77.76
- Daily
- $622
- Weekly
- $3,110
- Bi-weekly
- $6,221
- Monthly
- $13,478
- Annual
- $161,740
$161,740 a year is around the 50th percentile for Computer Hardware Engineerss. The median is $161,740.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$185,180
- 2Washington$169,120
- 3Massachusetts$167,600
- 4New Mexico$165,350
- 5Texas$163,860
- 6New York$163,470
- 7District of Columbia$163,360
- 8Hawaii$159,880
- 9Arizona$158,280
- 10Colorado$156,080
- 11Maryland$152,730
- 12New Jersey$142,880
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$209,860
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$203,890
- 3Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$202,390
- 4Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$175,110
- 5San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$174,440
- 6Manchester-Nashua, NH$174,140
- 7Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$172,210
- 8Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$169,370
- 9Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,120
- 10Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$168,990
- 11Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$167,600
- 12Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$167,010
Related job titles
Employers advertise Computer Hardware Engineers roles under these titles.
- Computer Designer
- Computer Hardware Designer
- Computer Hardware Developer
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer Installation Engineer
- Computer Tester
- Computer Vision Engineer
- Digital Design Engineer
- Digital Hardware Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Embedded Hardware Engineer
- Hardware Architect
- Hardware Design Engineer
- Hardware Development Engineer
- Hardware Engineer
- Hardware Systems Engineer
Related occupations
- Software Developers$135,980
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
- Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians$67,820
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$73,900
- Engineers, All Other$122,930
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,510
What a Computer Hardware Engineers does
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
- Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
- Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
- Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Computer Hardware Engineers make?
- The median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers is $161,740 ($78 per hour). Pay ranges from about $92,940 at the 10th percentile to $225,330 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Computer Hardware Engineers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $162,670, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Computer Hardware Engineerss the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $185,180.
- Is Computer Hardware Engineers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 77K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Computer Hardware Engineers do?
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.; Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.; Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system..