Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL make a median of $135,220 a year, or about $65.01 an hour. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $118,448 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,436/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $162K. Rent runs $2,436/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 114.16), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $136K | $134K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $126K | $125K |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $151K | $151K |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $128K | $132K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $122K 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,436/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,810/month. At HUD’s $2,436/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $135K here vs. $162K nationally.
How does Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 114.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $135,220 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,160, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $202,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,598/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 28.3% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (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 $118,448 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.