Computer Hardware Engineers Salary
Computer Hardware Engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $159,480 a year, or about $76.67 an hour. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $221K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $146,473 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 23.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $159K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Computer hardware engineers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $159K locally vs. $162K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer hardware engineers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $157K | $150K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $132K | $134K |
| Lexington Park | $128K | $127K |
| Richmond | $132K | $135K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level computer hardware engineers (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $221K or more, a $125K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer hardware engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer hardware engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer hardware engineers typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,747/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $159K locally vs. $162K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for computer hardware engineers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $162K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $146K — below the national median.
How much do computer hardware engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $159,480 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,780, and experienced computer hardware engineers can clear $221,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,087/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 24.7% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $146,473 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.