Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Computer Hardware Engineer is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Computer Hardware Engineer pay by experience level
Entry level$96,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$130,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$167,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$210,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$233,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+7.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,700
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
30,320 workers
$174,500
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
24,100 workers
$168,500
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
18,120 workers
$173,500
Scientific Research and Development Services
14,280 workers
$191,000
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
11,260 workers
$165,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
4,750 workers
$142,500
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
4,590 workers
$142,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
3,930 workers
$151,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
3,930 workers
$170,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
3,930 workers
$170,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Who works in this role
About 94,000 people held this occupation in the United States in 2025.
Women
22.5%
White
47.1%
Black or African American
5.4%
Asian
46.7%
Hispanic or Latino
7.1%
Race categories and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity overlap, so shares can sum to more than 100 percent. Figures describe this occupation across the national workforce, not any single employer. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Averages, Table 11, 2025.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $119,560 to $161,740.
+35.3% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$96,000
Early career25th percentile
$130,500
Median50th percentile
$167,500
Experienced75th percentile
$210,000
Top earners90th percentile
$233,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingActive Listening
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$168,500
2027$174,500
2028$180,500
2029$187,000
2030$193,500
2031$200,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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The median market pay for a Computer Hardware Engineer in the United States is about $168,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Computer Hardware Engineer?
Most Computer Hardware Engineer pay falls between about $130,500 (25th percentile) and $210,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $233,000.
What does a Computer Hardware Engineer do?
Core responsibilities include: update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology; and design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Is pay for Computer Hardware Engineer roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $119,560 in 2020 to $161,740 in 2025, a change of +35.3% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Computer Hardware Engineer pays 56% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make?
The average base salary for a Computer Hardware Engineer in the United States is $168,500 per year, or about $81.01 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $130,500 and $210,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Computer Hardware Engineer pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
