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Computer hardware engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$161,740median pay per year, or $77.76 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $92,940lowest 10% earn less
  2. $126,09025th percentile
  3. $161,740median
  4. $202,99075th percentile
  5. $225,330top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for computer hardware engineers was $161,740 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+9.1%[2]
Openings per year
4,100[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do computer hardware engineers make?

The median wage was $161,740 a year, or $77.76 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $162,670 a year, or $78.21 an hour[7].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $92,940, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $126,090[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $202,990, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $225,330[3]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $44.68 and the 90th was $108.33[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

For comparison, the median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[4].

These figures cover about 76,660 wage and salary jobs[10]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

California had the highest median wage among states at $185,180[12]. Washington followed at $169,120, then Massachusetts at $167,600[12]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median, $78,320[12].

California also had the most jobs, 19,820, followed by Texas with 7,390 and New Mexico with 5,260[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $209,860[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA came next at $203,890, then Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT at $202,390[14]. San Jose also had the most jobs, 7,940[15]. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX had 3,850 jobs and a median of $165,530[15].

Show median pay in 40 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$185,18019,820
Washington$169,1201,800
Massachusetts$167,6003,150
New Mexico$165,3505,260
Texas$163,8607,390
New York$163,4703,020
District of Columbia$163,360210
Hawaii$159,88090
Arizona$158,2803,110
Colorado$156,0802,660
Maryland$152,7301,720
New Jersey$142,880580
Virginia$139,0301,720
Alabama$136,990680
Delaware$135,69030
Nebraska$134,95080
North Carolina$134,6701,340
Minnesota$134,300770
Florida$134,1603,290
Illinois$133,2201,420
Idaho$131,570920
Tennessee$130,830n/a
New Hampshire$129,140310
Iowa$125,120130
South Carolina$125,110690
Arkansas$120,290160
Michigan$119,6701,420
Rhode Island$119,510390
Ohio$118,160580
Nevada$116,530160
Kentucky$116,200500
Utah$106,950430
Missouri$103,980900
Kansas$101,750220
South Dakota$101,400160
Georgia$100,210650
Indiana$98,350320
Oklahoma$95,600180
Wisconsin$83,670270
Louisiana$83,550270
Mississippi$78,320150

How to become a computer hardware engineer

The typical entry path asks for a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6].

In an O*NET survey of 29 workers, 48% said a bachelor's degree is required and 34% said a master's degree[21]. Engineers also need to keep learning as technology advances[20]. Some can advance to become engineering managers[22].

What computer hardware engineers do

O*NET describes the work as researching, designing, developing and testing computer or related equipment for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use[23]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

Computer hardware engineers work in different settings. Some are in research laboratories building and testing computer models, and others work in manufacturing[25]. Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing was the largest employer, at 24% of jobs in 2025[26]. Most computer hardware engineers work full time[27].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,100 to 83,000 jobs, a change of 6,900[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[28]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 4,100 openings are projected each year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 2.7% move to a different occupation[29].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a job with high pay compared with all occupations and projected growth above the all-occupations rate[1][4][2][28]. Entry usually calls for a bachelor's degree, and some employers prefer a master's[6][20]. The facts here do not say how long school takes or what it costs. Pay varies a lot by place, from a $185,180 median in California to $78,320 in Mississippi[12]. The work involves design, testing and writing specifications, so it may suit people who like technical problems[24][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a computer hardware engineer make an hour?
The median was $77.76 an hour and the mean was $78.21 in May 2025[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a computer hardware engineer?
The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree, usually in computer engineering or a related field[6][16].
Is computer hardware engineering in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 4,100 openings a year[2][28][5].
What is the highest paying state for computer hardware engineers?
California had the highest median at $185,180, followed by Washington at $169,120[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in the US was $161,740 per year and $77.76 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Computer Hardware Engineers is projected to grow 9.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,100 to 83,000 jobs (a change of +6,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Computer Hardware Engineers: 10th percentile $92,940, 25th percentile $126,090, 75th percentile $202,990, 90th percentile $225,330. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,100 openings for Computer Hardware Engineers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Computer Hardware Engineers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Computer Hardware Engineers was $162,670 per year and $78.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Computer Hardware Engineers: 10th percentile $44.68, 25th percentile $60.62, 75th percentile $97.59, 90th percentile $108.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 76,660 people were employed as Computer Hardware Engineers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Computer Hardware Engineers jobs: California 19,820; Texas 7,390; New Mexico 5,260; Florida 3,290; Massachusetts 3,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $209,860; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $203,890; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $202,390; Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $175,110; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $174,440; Manchester-Nashua, NH $174,140; Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $172,210; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $169,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Computer Hardware Engineers jobs: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 7,940 (median $209,860); Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 3,850 (median $165,530); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 3,330 (median $174,440); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 2,840 (median $167,600); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 2,820 (median $167,010); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 2,810 (median $203,890). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 17-2061.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 48%, Master's Degree 34%, Some College Courses 7%, Doctoral Degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Computer Hardware Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Computer Hardware Engineers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of computer hardware engineers in 2025: Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing 24%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Computer Hardware Engineers: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 2.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.