Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ make a median of $167,010 a year, or about $80.3 an hour. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $161,643 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,839/month, or 17.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $167K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Computer hardware engineers pay in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler tracks closely to the national median, $167K locally vs. $162K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,839/month, 18.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $129K | $133K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $210K | $190K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $174K | $156K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $204K | $176K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $115K 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Yes — at the median salary of $167K, rent takes 18.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,207/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $167K locally vs. $162K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $167K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $162K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $167,010 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $103,450, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $218,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,061/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 18.3% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (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 $161,643 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.