SOC 17-2061 · May 2025 · United States
Computer Hardware Engineers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers across the United States is $161,740 per year, measured over 76,660 jobs. The highest state median is in California, at $185,180.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Where the pay is highest for Computer Hardware Engineers
Pay for this occupation varies by 136.4% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. California pays $185,180 and Mississippi pays $78,320.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $185,180 | 19,820 | |
| 2 | Washington | $169,120 | 1,800 | |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $167,600 | 3,150 | |
| 4 | New Mexico | $165,350 | 5,260 | |
| 5 | Texas | $163,860 | 7,390 | |
| 6 | New York | $163,470 | 3,020 | |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $163,360 | 210 | |
| 8 | Hawaii | $159,880 | 90 | |
| 9 | Arizona | $158,280 | 3,110 | |
| 10 | Colorado | $156,080 | 2,660 |
States with the most Computer Hardware Engineers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 19,820 | $185,180 | |
| 2 | Texas | 7,390 | $163,860 | |
| 3 | New Mexico | 5,260 | $165,350 | |
| 4 | Florida | 3,290 | $134,160 | |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 3,150 | $167,600 | |
| 6 | Arizona | 3,110 | $158,280 | |
| 7 | New York | 3,020 | $163,470 | |
| 8 | Colorado | 2,660 | $156,080 | |
| 9 | Washington | 1,800 | $169,120 | |
| 10 | Maryland | 1,720 | $152,730 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $209,860 | 7,940 |
| 2 | San Francisco | $203,890 | 2,810 |
| 3 | Bridgeport | $202,390 | 120 |
| 4 | Durham | $175,110 | 430 |
| 5 | San Diego | $174,440 | 3,330 |
| 6 | Manchester | $174,140 | 130 |
| 7 | Allentown | $172,210 | 190 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz | $169,370 | 80 |
| 9 | Seattle | $169,120 | 1,410 |
| 10 | Fort Collins | $168,990 | 490 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.