Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina make a median of $134,670 a year, or about $64.74 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $234K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $145,338 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 15.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in North Carolina?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 15.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $234K or more, a $160K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in North Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $175K | +30% | 430 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $131K | -3% | 310 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $124K | -8% | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $108K | -19% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 15.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,459/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $135K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
North Carolina pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in North Carolina?
The median is $134,670 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,310, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $234,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 15.9% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $145,338 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.