Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Virginia make a median of $139,030 a year, or about $66.84 an hour. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $146,672 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $139K get you in Virginia?
About computer hardware engineers
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for computer hardware engineers in Virginia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $162K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for computer hardware engineerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary by metro in Virginia
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $132K | -5% | 70 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $132K | -5% | 280 |
| Charlottesville | $114K | -18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,258/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer hardware engineer a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $139K here vs. $162K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Virginia pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Virginia?
The median is $139,030 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $87,630, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $195,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,192/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 20.1% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $146,672 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.