North Carolina Median
$134,670
per year
Hourly Rate
$64.75
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-17% vs US median
US median $161,740
State Rank
#17 of 41
1,340 employed here
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make in North Carolina?
A Computer Hardware Engineer working in North Carolina earns a median salary of $134,670 per year, or about $64.75 per hour. That is 17% below the national median of $161,740 for this occupation.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $74,310 while the top 10% make $234,390 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $95,360 and $178,360 a year.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,310 | $35.73 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $95,360 | $45.85 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $134,670 | $64.75 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $178,360 | $85.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $234,390 | $112.69 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 17th 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 $134,950Minnesota $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($134,670) 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 North Carolina?
The median Computer Hardware Engineer salary in North Carolina is $134,670 per year, or about $64.75 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $74,310 at the entry level to $234,390 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Computer Hardware Engineers about 17% less than the national median of $161,740. North Carolina ranks 17th out of 41 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Computer Hardware Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $134,670 a year. About 1,340 Computer Hardware Engineers are employed in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.