Average Salary for Computer Hardware Engineers
SOC 17-2061 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in the United States is $155,020 ($74.53/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $85,430 at the 10th percentile to $223,820 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 75,710 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 43% since 2014.
Median Annual
$155,020
Mean Annual
$156,770
10th Pct
$85,430
75th Pct
$185,380
Employment
75,710
Salary Distribution
$85k
10th
$116k
25th
$155k
Median
$185k
75th
$224k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $197,090 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $188,540 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $184,560 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $174,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $172,920 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $170,570 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $170,360 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $169,230 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $165,020 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $164,970 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $164,640 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $164,620 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $163,220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $162,960 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $159,310 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $188,540 |
| California | $179,880 |
| Washington | $174,070 |
| Massachusetts | $170,570 |
| Arizona | $163,090 |
| Colorado | $162,920 |
| Hawaii | $155,390 |
| District of Columbia | $153,630 |
| New Hampshire | $152,840 |
| New York | $141,780 |
| Montana | $141,680 |
| Virginia | $139,570 |
| Maryland | $137,930 |
| Alabama | $136,660 |
| Alaska | $136,080 |
| Texas | $133,250 |
| Delaware | $132,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $131,660 |
| North Carolina | $131,600 |
| New Jersey | $131,540 |
| Minnesota | $130,530 |
| Idaho | $127,880 |
| Nebraska | $125,920 |
| Florida | $125,640 |
| Ohio | $124,800 |
| Arkansas | $122,860 |
| Rhode Island | $119,540 |
| South Carolina | $119,010 |
| Michigan | $113,620 |
| Oklahoma | $113,030 |
| Iowa | $111,080 |
| Georgia | $108,590 |
| Illinois | $107,720 |
| Utah | $104,080 |
| Nevada | $102,640 |
| Kansas | $101,650 |
| Missouri | $101,120 |
| Tennessee | $100,430 |
| Wisconsin | $98,040 |
| Indiana | $95,120 |
| Louisiana | $93,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $90,550 |
| Kentucky | $88,750 |
| Mississippi | $76,120 |
| North Dakota | $73,390 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $212,410 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $212,410 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $183,830 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $183,830 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $179,190 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $179,190 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $169,930 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $169,290 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $169,290 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $169,290 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $167,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $167,130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $167,130 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $166,150 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $163,540 |
| Software Publishers | $162,490 |
| Publishing Industries | $162,490 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $162,460 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $162,460 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | $162,240 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $160,710 |
| Manufacturing | $160,210 |
| Information | $160,080 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $153,960 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $153,270 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $152,250 |
| Finance and Insurance | $150,860 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $149,270 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $149,270 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $144,250 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $142,900 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $141,180 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $140,170 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $140,170 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $140,170 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $140,120 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $138,070 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | $137,790 |
| Employment Services | $137,600 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $137,140 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $137,140 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $135,940 |
| Wholesale Trade | $135,680 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $135,680 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $135,430 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $135,000 |
| Engineering Services | $135,000 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $134,430 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $133,350 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $133,350 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $132,910 |
| Temporary Help Services | $132,880 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $132,540 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $132,440 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $132,010 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $132,010 |
| Telecommunications | $130,530 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $128,930 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $127,730 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $127,730 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $125,730 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $125,370 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $125,370 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $120,090 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $117,060 |
| Hospitals | $117,060 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $117,060 |
| Utilities | $116,870 |
| Utilities | $116,870 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $113,450 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | $110,240 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $107,160 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $105,420 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $105,420 |
| Specialized Design Services | $105,010 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | $102,600 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $101,860 |
| Legal Services | $88,560 |
| Educational Services | $86,700 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $86,390 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $86,360 |
| Educational Services | $86,360 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $56,050 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $53,840 |
| Urban Transit Systems | $53,000 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $155,020 |
| 2023 | $138,080 |
| 2022 | $132,360 |
| 2021 | $128,170 |
| 2020 | $119,560 |
| 2019 | $117,220 |
| 2018 | $114,600 |
| 2017 | $115,120 |
| 2016 | $115,080 |
| 2015 | $111,730 |
| 2014 | $108,430 |