Kentucky Median
$116,200
per year
Hourly Rate
$55.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-28% vs US median
US median $161,740
State Rank
#31 of 41
500 employed here
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make in Kentucky?
A Computer Hardware Engineer working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $116,200 per year, or about $55.87 per hour. That is 28% below the national median of $161,740 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $71,400 while the top 10% make $128,050 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $97,280 and $126,180 a year.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,400 | $34.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $97,280 | $46.77 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $116,200 | $55.87 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $126,180 | $60.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,050 | $61.56 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 31st out of 41 states and territories for Computer Hardware Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Computer Hardware Engineer salary in other states
California $185,180Washington $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 $116,530Utah $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($116,200) 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 Kentucky?
The median Computer Hardware Engineer salary in Kentucky is $116,200 per year, or about $55.87 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $71,400 at the entry level to $128,050 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Computer Hardware Engineers about 28% less than the national median of $161,740. Kentucky ranks 31st out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Computer Hardware Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $116,200 a year. About 500 Computer Hardware Engineers are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.