Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Colorado make a median of $156,080 a year, or about $75.04 an hour. The range runs from $100K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $150,497 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $156K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Colorado
Computer hardware engineers pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $156K locally vs. $162K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $122K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Colorado
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $169K | +8% | 490 |
| Boulder | $162K | +4% | 650 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $145K | -7% | 970 |
| Colorado Springs | $137K | -12% | 490 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $100K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,197/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $156K locally vs. $162K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Colorado pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Colorado?
The median is $156,080 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,050, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $222,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,214/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 19.9% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $150,497 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.