Computer hardware engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Computer hardware engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $161,740 per year — about $78 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 77K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +7%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core work of designing schematics, analyzing circuits, and testing components is increasingly performed using digital Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools that are highly susceptible to AI-driven optimization and automation. While there is a physical component to testing and manufacturing oversight, the vast majority of the engineering lifecycle is digital and benefits significantly from AI's ability to optimize complex systems and generate code/hardware descriptions.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical AreaBEST VALUE | $202,390 | Above avg (107.0) | $189,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $209,860 | Above avg (113.1) | $185,620 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $175,110 | Average (97.3) | $179,882 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $161,160 | Below avg (90.0) | $179,095 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $172,210 | Average (98.9) | $174,161 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $168,990 | Average (97.3) | $173,665 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,890 | Above avg (117.6) | $173,448 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $165,530 | Average (98.3) | $168,434 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $174,140 | Above avg (105.6) | $164,871 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $151,330 | Below avg (92.7) | $163,185 |
| Boulder, CO | $161,720 | Average (100.6) | $160,733 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $167,010 | Above avg (104.7) | $159,549 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $162,870 | Average (102.5) | $158,913 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $174,440 | Above avg (110.7) | $157,521 |
| Huntsville, AL | $142,670 | Below avg (93.8) | $152,086 |