Computer Hardware Engineers Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Computer Hardware Engineers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $164,640 a year, or about $79.16 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $100K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $168,740 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 16.8% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $165K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
About computer hardware engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $165K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Computer Hardware Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $189K | +22% | 480 |
| California | $180K | +16% | 24,200 |
| Washington | $174K | +12% | 1,370 |
| Massachusetts | $171K | +10% | 3,350 |
| Arizona | $163K | +5% | 3,390 |
| Hawaii | $155K | +0% | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $154K | -1% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $153K | -1% | 290 |
| New York | $142K | -9% | 2,500 |
| Montana | $142K | -9% | 50 |
| Virginia | $140K | -10% | 1,840 |
| Maryland | $138K | -11% | 2,420 |
| Alabama | $137K | -12% | 800 |
| Alaska | $136K | -12% | 40 |
| Texas | $133K | -14% | 3,380 |
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $164,640 a year - that works out to about $79.16 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $165K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,656/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 17.7% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $168,740 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.