Computer Hardware Engineers Salary in California

Computer Hardware Engineerss in California have a median annual salary of $185,180, which works out to about $89.03 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $150,700 to $219,980, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

17-2061 · Computer Hardware Engineers

Computer Hardware Engineers pay in California at a glance

Median annual salary

$185,180

Median hourly wage

$89.03/hr

Average annual salary

$190,590

Average hourly wage

$91.63/hr

25th percentile

$150,700

75th percentile

$219,980

10th percentile

$126,590

90th percentile

$281,210

People employed

19,820

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid computer hardware engineers roles in California.

10th percentile
$126,590
25th percentile
$150,700
Median percentile
$185,180
75th percentile
$219,980
90th percentile
$281,210

California vs U.S. salary

The median salary for computer hardware engineers roles in California is about 14.5% above the U.S. median of $161,740 for the same occupation.

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How much does a computer hardware engineers make in California?

Half of computer hardware engineers roles in California report earning more than $185,180 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $190,590 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $150,700 and a quarter are above $219,980, so most computer hardware engineers pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect computer hardware engineers pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Computer Hardware Engineers pay in other states

Related jobs in California

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.