Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Arkansas make a median of $120,290 a year, or about $57.83 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $137,255 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 14% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $120K get you in Arkansas?
About computer hardware engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Arkansas runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 13.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $120K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Arkansas
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $125K | +4% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $120K, rent takes 13.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,252/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $120K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Arkansas pays $120K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $137K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Arkansas?
The median is $120,290 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,870, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $166,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $120K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,371/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 13.9% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $137,255 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.