Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Minnesota make a median of $134,300 a year, or about $64.57 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $145,032 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Minnesota?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Minnesota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Minnesota can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $134K | +0% | 550 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,086/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $134K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Minnesota pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Minnesota?
The median is $134,300 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,770, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $176,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,885/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 17.6% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $145,032 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.