California Median
$185,180
per year
Hourly Rate
$89.03
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+14% vs US median
US median $161,740
State Rank
#1 of 41
19,820 employed here
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make in California?
Computer Hardware Engineers in California take home a median of $185,180 annually — roughly $89.03 an hour — which runs 14% above the national median of $161,740.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $126,590 while the top 10% make $281,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $150,700 and $219,980 a year.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $126,590 | $60.86 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $150,700 | $72.45 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $185,180 | $89.03 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $219,980 | $105.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $281,210 | $135.20 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 41 states and territories for Computer Hardware Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Computer Hardware Engineer salary in other states
Washington $169,120Massachusetts $167,600New Mexico $165,350Texas $163,860New York $163,470District of Columbia $163,360Hawaii $159,880Arizona $158,280Colorado $156,080Maryland $152,730New Jersey $142,880Virginia $139,030Alabama $136,990Delaware $135,690Nebraska $134,950North Carolina $134,670Minnesota $134,300Florida $134,160Illinois $133,220Idaho $131,570Tennessee $130,830New Hampshire $129,140Iowa $125,120South Carolina $125,110Arkansas $120,290Michigan $119,670Rhode Island $119,510Ohio $118,160Nevada $116,530Kentucky $116,200Utah $106,950Missouri $103,980Kansas $101,750South Dakota $101,400Georgia $100,210Indiana $98,350Oklahoma $95,600Wisconsin $83,670Louisiana $83,550Mississippi $78,320
Working as a Computer Hardware Engineer in California
Nationally, about 77,000 people work as Computer Hardware Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($185,180) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make in California?
The median Computer Hardware Engineer salary in California is $185,180 per year, or about $89.03 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $126,590 at the entry level to $281,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Computer Hardware Engineers about 14% more than the national median of $161,740. California ranks 1st out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Computer Hardware Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $185,180 a year. About 19,820 Computer Hardware Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Computer Hardware Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.