Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN make a median of $126,180 a year, or about $60.67 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.07), which stretches that salary to about $135,575 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $126K get you in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Louisville/Jefferson County’s Regional Price Parity (93.07). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Louisville/Jefferson County
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Louisville/Jefferson County runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.07 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Louisville/Jefferson County can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Louisville/Jefferson County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $123K | $133K |
| Springfield | $102K | $116K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $137K | $143K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $134K | $129K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Hardware Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $185K | +14% | 19,820 |
| Washington | $169K | +5% | 1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $168K | +4% | 3,150 |
| New Mexico | $165K | +2% | 5,260 |
| Texas | $164K | +1% | 7,390 |
| New York | $163K | +1% | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $163K | +1% | 210 |
| Hawaii | $160K | -1% | 90 |
| Arizona | $158K | -2% | 3,110 |
| Colorado | $156K | -3% | 2,660 |
| Maryland | $153K | -6% | 1,720 |
| New Jersey | $143K | -12% | 580 |
| Virginia | $139K | -14% | 1,720 |
| Alabama | $137K | -15% | 680 |
| Delaware | $136K | -16% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $135K | -17% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $135K | -17% | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $134K | -17% | 770 |
| Florida | $134K | -17% | 3,290 |
| Illinois | $133K | -18% | 1,420 |
| Idaho | $132K | -19% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $131K | -19% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $129K | -20% | 310 |
| Iowa | $125K | -23% | 130 |
| South Carolina | $125K | -23% | 690 |
| Arkansas | $120K | -26% | 160 |
| Michigan | $120K | -26% | 1,420 |
| Rhode Island | $120K | -26% | 390 |
| Ohio | $118K | -27% | 580 |
| Nevada | $117K | -28% | 160 |
| Kentucky | $116K | -28% | 500 |
| Utah | $107K | -34% | 430 |
| Missouri | $104K | -36% | 900 |
| Kansas | $102K | -37% | 220 |
| South Dakota | $101K | -37% | 160 |
| Georgia | $100K | -38% | 650 |
| Indiana | $98K | -39% | 320 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | -41% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -48% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -48% | 270 |
| Mississippi | $78K | -52% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisville/Jefferson County numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Louisville/Jefferson County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,925/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $126K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisville/Jefferson County compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Louisville/Jefferson County pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.07), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median is $126,180 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,080, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $126,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Louisville/Jefferson County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,663/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 16.6% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
Louisville/Jefferson County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.07 (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 $135,575 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.