Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Tucson, AZ make a median of $129,340 a year, or about $62.18 an hour. The range runs from $100K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.9), that's roughly $133,478 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,402/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Tucson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tucson’s Regional Price Parity (96.9). 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 Tucson
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Tucson runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,402/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.9) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Tucson can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Tucson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $167K | $162K |
| 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, Tucson, AZ
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $63K 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 Tucson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tucson?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,402/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Tucson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $100K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,025/month. At HUD’s $1,402/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Tucson?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $129K here vs. $162K nationally.
How does Tucson compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Tucson pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Tucson, AZ?
The median is $129,340 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,410, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $163,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Tucson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,994/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,402/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Tucson?
Tucson has a Regional Price Parity of 96.9 (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 $133,478 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.