Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI make a median of $99,010 a year, or about $47.6 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $186K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.94), that's roughly $102,135 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,338/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $99K get you in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Milwaukee-Waukesha’s Regional Price Parity (96.94). 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Milwaukee-Waukesha runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,338/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Milwaukee-Waukesha 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $82K | $84K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $134K | $129K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $130K | $130K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $134K | $128K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $186K or more, a $125K 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,338/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,662/month. At HUD’s $1,338/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $99K here vs. $162K nationally.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Milwaukee-Waukesha pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median is $99,010 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,030, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $186,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,153/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,338/month, which eats 21.7% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Milwaukee-Waukesha has a Regional Price Parity of 96.94 (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 $102,135 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.