Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Ohio make a median of $118,160 a year, or about $56.81 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $129,207 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 15.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K get you in Ohio?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Ohio runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 16.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Ohio can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Ohio
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $121K | +2% | 220 |
| Columbus | $121K | +2% | 90 |
| Cleveland | $119K | +1% | 110 |
| Akron | $118K | -0% | 30 |
| Cincinnati | $109K | -8% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track computer hardware engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 16.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,514/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $118K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Ohio pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $129K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Ohio?
The median is $118,160 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,240, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $196,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 16.1% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $129,207 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.