Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in South Dakota make a median of $101,400 a year, or about $48.75 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $150K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $112,805 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 15% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in South Dakota?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for computer hardware engineers in South Dakota runs about 37% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 15.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $150K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $100K | -2% | 110 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 15.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,682/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 37% below the national median — $101K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
South Dakota pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in South Dakota?
The median is $101,400 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,040, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $150,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,643/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 15.3% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $112,805 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.