Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in California make a median of $185,180 a year, or about $89.03 an hour. The range runs from $127K at the entry level to $281K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $174,468 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $185K get you in California?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for computer hardware engineers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for computer hardware engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $127K. Mid-career wages sit at $185K. Top earners bring in $281K or more, a $155K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in California
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $210K | +13% | 7,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $204K | +10% | 2,810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $174K | -6% | 3,330 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $169K | -9% | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $159K | -14% | 1,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $148K | -20% | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $134K | -28% | 200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $128K | -31% | 380 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $126K | -32% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $185K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $127K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,595/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $185K here vs. $162K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
California pays $185K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in California?
The median is $185,180 a year, that works out to about $89 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $126,590, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $281,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $185K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,377/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 23.8% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer hardware engineers salary is worth about $174,468 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.