Hardware Engineer Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

Computer hardware engineers design computer hardware, test equipment designs, and oversee the manufacturing process of computer components.

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for computer hardware engineers to grow by 7 percent, a faster-than-average pace, between 2024 and 2034 [1].

• Factors that can impact your salary as a computer hardware engineer include education, experience, location, and the industry you work in.

• You can find related roles, such as computer network architects and electrical engineers, that also command an above-average salary.

Discover more about the role of a computer hardware engineer and the salary you can expect depending on various factors. If you’re ready to develop your skills, consider enrolling in the Microsoft IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to develop a holistic understanding of IT support, including hardware, software, networking, and security concepts. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career credential to share on your resume. 

What is a hardware engineer?

Computer hardware engineers oversee the development and manufacturing of components such as processors, circuit boards, and networks into computer equipment. You’re responsible for making sure the components work together and can process computer software using your engineered hardware design.

You’re also responsible for designing the hardware from its initial idea through manufacturing and testing to ensure the pieces work properly together. Based on testing, you identify issues and modify your plans. 

How many years does it take to become a computer hardware engineer?

It takes at least four years to become a computer hardware engineer. You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, information technology, or a related field. You may choose to earn a master’s degree or certification, which can take more time.

What is the salary of a hardware engineer?

Hardware engineers make a median annual salary of $155,020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [2]. The lowest 10 percent of hardware engineers in the US make less than $85,430, and the highest 10 percent earn over $223,820 [2].

According to various job listing sites, the average annual base pay for hardware engineers ranges from $86,238 to $136,240. The annual salary ranges given by five different organizations that track hardware engineer salaries are as follows:

*All salary data is current as of February 2026. The Glassdoor salary represents median total pay, which includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Factors that affect a computer hardware engineer salary

Several factors can affect your salary in the field of hardware engineering. You can typically earn a higher salary based on your experience in the field or education level. Your location may also affect your income, depending on the cost of living in your area and the demand for hardware engineers. Particular sectors or fields of hardware engineering can earn you more money, too.

Education

According to Zippia, roughly 69 percent of hardware engineers hold a bachelor’s degree, while 17 percent have a master’s [7]. Another 9 percent have an associate degree [7]. In addition to degrees, you can also consider potential hardware engineer certifications, which can help boost your viability as a job candidate or add to your expected salary. A few certifications to consider include:

• GAQM's Certified Hardware and Technology Engineer (CHTE)

• AppleCare Hardware Certification

• Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)

• BICSI Technician (TECH) Certification

• CompTIA Server+ Certification

Zippia reports the average hardware engineer with a bachelor’s degree earns an average of $102,574, while a professional with a master’s degree earns an average of $112,013 [7].

Experience

Your experience in the field can affect how much you can earn as a hardware engineer, with more experience usually boosting your annual income compared to a hardware engineer entry-level salary. The median total pay you can earn based on your experience, according to Glassdoor, is as follows [4]:

• 0–1 year: $110,000

• 1–3 years: $120,000

• 4–6 years: $138,000

• 7–9 years: $149,000

• 10–14 years: $167,000

• 15 or more years: $195,000

Location

Where you live can affect the hardware engineer salaries near you due to the cost of living and the demand for hardware engineers in your area. The five top-paying states and the mean wages paid to hardware engineers based on data collected by the BLS are [8]:

• California: $183,350

• Massachusetts: $174,290

• Connecticut: $170,230

• Colorado: $159,920

• Washington: $156,770

Some cities could have higher salaries, so you might earn more based on whether you live in a certain city or are flexible with possible relocation to an area with a higher median annual wage for hardware engineers.

Several metropolitan areas in California have the highest mean annual income for hardware engineers, for example. The top five highest-paying areas for this career field in the US are [8]:

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $203,400

• San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: $185,080

• Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT: $178,910

• Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: $175,380

• Fort Collins-Loveland, CO: $174,630

Industry

The particular industry you decide to work in can also affect your hardware engineering salary. You can earn a median annual salary of $179,190 in research and development or $134,430 working with the federal government, according to the BLS [2].

Additionally, Glassdoor lists the following as the five highest-paying industries for hardware engineers. Note that Glassdoor calculates total median pay, including base pay, such as the pay calculated by the BLS. Salaries also include additional compensation like stocks, cash bonuses, and other benefits [4]:

• Health care: $266,745

• Financial services: $185,304

• Information technology: $149,594

• Telecommunications: $128,588

• Energy, mining, and utilities: $128,360

Related job titles

You can gain additional experience in hardware engineering or find a better-fit job. Two careers to consider are computer network architects and electrical engineers. 

1. Computer network architects

Median annual salary in the US (BLS): $130,390 [9]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 12 percent [9]

As a computer network architect, you will create plans for computer networks. You'd be responsible for building networks, upgrading hardware and software for your company or organization, or developing plans to update workers' technology. 

Read more: A Guide to Network Architectures

2, Electrical engineer

Median annual salary in the US (BLS): $118,780 [10]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 7 percent [10]

As an electrical engineer, you will design and develop electrical equipment. You may also be responsible for supervising electrical equipment manufacturing. The electrical engineering field is broad, so common specialties include microelectronics, computer engineering, and power systems, to name a few.

Job outlook

Jobs in computer hardware engineering are expected to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the BLS [1]. That increase is faster than the national average of 3 percent for all occupations. With that, the BLS expects the computer hardware engineering field to have an average of 4,700 job openings yearly.

Hardware engineering jobs will likely continue to grow due to increasing demand for designers and manufacturers of products that require hardware engineering experience. You can create hardware for a variety of fields that need innovative designs, such as automobiles, medical devices, and even kitchen appliances.

Find free resources to take your next career step

Explore our Career Resource Hub, where you can assess your skills and explore potential career paths. Then, check out these resources for your tech career:

• Build your knowledge: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary 

• Consider your options: 7 IT Certifications to Know + Career Benefits 

• Learn from an expert: How to Use GenAI in Your Job: Insight from Coursera’s Former CEO

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