Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Hawaii make a median of $159,880 a year, or about $76.87 an hour. The range runs from $94K at the entry level to $203K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $145,121 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,240/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in Hawaii?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Computer hardware engineers pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $160K locally vs. $162K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,240/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $203K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $143K | -11% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $94K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,656/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $160K locally vs. $162K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Hawaii pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Hawaii?
The median is $159,880 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,270, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $202,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,963/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 25% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (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 $145,121 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.