SOC 17-2061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer Hardware Engineers — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay in Rhode Island is $119,510 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $161,740 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Rhode Island is $119,510 a year, 26.1% under the national median of $161,740 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $96,750 and $144,910. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $80,620 and the ninetieth at $158,570.
The area has 390 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.8 of every thousand jobs. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, Rhode Island ranks 28th by median wage. Providence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $125,060. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 57th of 545 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,620 | −50.2% |
| 25th | $96,750 | −40.2% |
| Median (50th) | $119,510 | −26.1% |
| 75th | $144,910 | −10.4% |
| 90th | $158,570 | −2.0% |
| Mean | $123,300 | −23.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $125,060 | 460 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $119,510 buys what $116,823 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 27.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$119,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$116,823US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $119,510 a year, 26.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,620 to $158,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 390 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 28th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $125,060.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $119,510, or $57.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $161,740, so pay in Rhode Island is 26.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Rhode Island earns more than $158,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,620 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Providence, at $125,060 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 390 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.
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