SOC 17-2061 · Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Computer Hardware Engineers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$161,740
- 10th percentile
- $92,940
- 25th percentile
- $126,090
- Median
- $161,740
- 75th percentile
- $202,990
- 90th percentile
- $225,330
- Mean
- $162,670
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 76,660.
That median is 217.3% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,940 | $141,590 | $209,860 | $284,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,810 | $130,800 | $203,890 | $284,580 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 120 | $100,150 | $202,390 | $217,140 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 430 | $99,900 | $175,110 | $294,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,330 | $122,910 | $174,440 | $227,940 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 130 | $69,360 | $174,140 | $205,900 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 190 | $123,650 | $172,210 | $288,440 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 80 | $89,080 | $169,370 | $214,600 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,410 | $104,770 | $169,120 | $260,210 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 490 | $107,940 | $168,990 | $223,570 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,840 | $110,730 | $167,600 | $260,460 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,820 | $103,450 | $167,010 | $218,440 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 3,850 | $103,080 | $165,530 | $254,180 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,570 | $86,190 | $162,870 | $213,740 |
| Boulder, CO | 650 | $100,390 | $161,720 | $216,650 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 60 | $70,320 | $161,160 | $267,700 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,780 | $101,010 | $160,300 | $216,050 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,790 | $95,780 | $159,480 | $221,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,870 | $105,390 | $158,530 | $222,470 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 740 | $81,200 | $156,750 | $204,360 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 7,940 | $141,590 | $209,860 | $284,400 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 3,850 | $103,080 | $165,530 | $254,180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,330 | $122,910 | $174,440 | $227,940 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,840 | $110,730 | $167,600 | $260,460 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,820 | $103,450 | $167,010 | $218,440 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,810 | $130,800 | $203,890 | $284,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,870 | $105,390 | $158,530 | $222,470 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,790 | $95,780 | $159,480 | $221,090 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,780 | $101,010 | $160,300 | $216,050 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,570 | $86,190 | $162,870 | $213,740 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,410 | $104,770 | $169,120 | $260,210 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,080 | $76,450 | $133,860 | $210,100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,060 | $86,520 | $129,990 | $178,280 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 970 | $98,530 | $144,660 | $228,890 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 840 | $82,200 | $137,740 | $195,190 |
| Boise City, ID | 830 | $91,210 | $131,570 | $212,880 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 740 | $81,200 | $156,750 | $204,360 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 670 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Boulder, CO | 650 | $100,390 | $161,720 | $216,650 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 650 | $92,550 | $136,300 | $203,500 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 19,820 | $126,590 | $185,180 | $281,210 |
| Washington | 1,800 | $100,120 | $169,120 | $260,210 |
| Massachusetts | 3,150 | $118,490 | $167,600 | $258,880 |
| New Mexico | 5,260 | $117,150 | $165,350 | $204,150 |
| Texas | 7,390 | $92,940 | $163,860 | $216,260 |
| New York | 3,020 | $101,530 | $163,470 | $224,490 |
| District of Columbia | 210 | $100,690 | $163,360 | $211,950 |
| Hawaii | 90 | $94,270 | $159,880 | $202,980 |
| Arizona | 3,110 | $100,900 | $158,280 | $218,440 |
| Colorado | 2,660 | $100,050 | $156,080 | $222,220 |
| Maryland | 1,720 | $87,840 | $152,730 | $198,300 |
| New Jersey | 580 | $87,540 | $142,880 | $210,900 |
| Virginia | 1,720 | $87,630 | $139,030 | $195,290 |
| Alabama | 680 | $80,680 | $136,990 | $195,190 |
| Delaware | 30 | $96,140 | $135,690 | $200,240 |
| Nebraska | 80 | $96,910 | $134,950 | $173,350 |
| North Carolina | 1,340 | $74,310 | $134,670 | $234,390 |
| Minnesota | 770 | $84,770 | $134,300 | $176,340 |
| Florida | 3,290 | $77,680 | $134,160 | $203,510 |
| Illinois | 1,420 | $77,420 | $133,220 | $210,100 |
| Idaho | 920 | $85,230 | $131,570 | $212,880 |
| Tennessee | Not available | $96,300 | $130,830 | $167,030 |
| New Hampshire | 310 | $75,740 | $129,140 | $202,720 |
| Iowa | 130 | $77,480 | $125,120 | $187,980 |
| South Carolina | 690 | $74,990 | $125,110 | $171,540 |
| Arkansas | 160 | $70,870 | $120,290 | $166,450 |
| Michigan | 1,420 | $78,240 | $119,670 | $176,700 |
| Rhode Island | 390 | $80,620 | $119,510 | $158,570 |
| Ohio | 580 | $75,240 | $118,160 | $196,680 |
| Nevada | 160 | $83,310 | $116,530 | $155,020 |
| Kentucky | 500 | $71,400 | $116,200 | $128,050 |
| Utah | 430 | $72,550 | $106,950 | $168,320 |
| Missouri | 900 | $61,290 | $103,980 | $150,050 |
| Kansas | 220 | $74,520 | $101,750 | $145,800 |
| South Dakota | 160 | $78,040 | $101,400 | $150,110 |
| Georgia | 650 | $70,920 | $100,210 | $165,610 |
| Indiana | 320 | $73,780 | $98,350 | $136,970 |
| Oklahoma | 180 | $77,150 | $95,600 | $171,560 |
| Puerto Rico | 370 | $64,590 | $85,660 | $138,930 |
| Wisconsin | 270 | $68,330 | $83,670 | $172,820 |
| Louisiana | 270 | $47,840 | $83,550 | $150,290 |
| Mississippi | 150 | $68,770 | $78,320 | $140,650 |
| Connecticut | 340 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Pennsylvania | 1,610 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Vermont | 130 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| West Virginia | 140 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other architecture and engineering occupations
- Civil Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Engineers, All Other
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
- Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Computer Hardware Engineers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers is $161,740. Employment is 76,660.
How does Computer Hardware Engineers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Computer Hardware Engineers is 217.3% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Computer Hardware Engineers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is highest on this page's list at $209,860.