Computer Hardware Engineers · North Carolina

Computer Hardware Engineers Salary in North Carolina

Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $134,670 —16.7% below the national median of $161,740. That ranks NC #17 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$134,670
Median hourly
$64.74
Entry level (P10)
$74,310
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$234,390
90th percentile
Employment
1,340
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-16.7%
U.S. $161,740

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$74,310
$95,360
$134,670
$178,360
$74,310$134,670$234,390
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $134,670.

Employment is only 0.55× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for computer hardware engineers

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$185,180$89.0319,8202.21
2Washington$169,120$81.311,8001.03
3Massachusetts$167,600$80.583,1501.76
4New Mexico$165,350$79.505,26012.25
5Texas$163,860$78.787,3901.06
6New York$163,470$78.593,0200.63
7District of Columbia$163,360$78.542100.62
8Hawaii$159,880$76.87900.28
9Arizona$158,280$76.103,1101.94
10Colorado$156,080$75.042,6601.87

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Civil Engineers$100,730$100,840
Industrial Engineers$99,310$102,440
Mechanical Engineers$100,720$104,110
Electrical Engineers$110,130$120,630
Engineers, All Other$112,450$122,930
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$95,700$99,280

Frequently asked questions

How much do computer hardware engineers make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers in North Carolina is $134,670, or $64.74 per hour. That is 16.7% below the national median of $161,740.

What is the entry-level computer hardware engineers salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $74,310 per year ($35.72/hour). The 25th percentile is $95,360.

How many people work as computer hardware engineers in North Carolina?

About 1,340 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for computer hardware engineers?

North Carolina ranks #17 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.55x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays computer hardware engineers the most?

California has the highest median wage at $185,180 per year, followed by Washington ($169,120) and Massachusetts ($167,600).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes