Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Idaho make a median of $131,570 a year, or about $63.26 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $213K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $140,147 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 14.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $132K actually covers in Idaho, month by month
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Idaho runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 14.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $213K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $132K | +0% | 830 |
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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 Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 14.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,372/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Idaho?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $132K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Idaho pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Idaho?
The median is $131,570 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,230, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $212,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,843/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 14.5% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $140,147 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.