Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Alabama make a median of $136,990 a year, or about $65.86 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $155,036 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 13% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $137K get you in Alabama?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Alabama runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 13.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $115K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Alabama
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $143K | +4% | 560 |
| Montgomery | $134K | -2% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 13.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,841/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $137K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Alabama pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Alabama?
The median is $136,990 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,680, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $195,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,142/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 13.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer hardware engineers salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer hardware engineers salary is worth about $155,036 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer hardware engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.