Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Florida make a median of $134,160 a year, or about $64.5 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $204K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $136,093 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 19.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Florida?
About computer hardware engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Florida runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 19.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Florida can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $204K or more, a $126K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Florida
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $151K | +12% | 500 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $136K | +2% | 650 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $135K | +1% | 460 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $128K | -5% | 120 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $126K | -6% | 580 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $121K | -10% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 19.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,661/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $134K here vs. $162K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Florida pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Florida?
The median is $134,160 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,680, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $203,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 19.4% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $136,093 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.