Computer Hardware Engineers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $221,090 or more. The middle half of computer hardware engineers in Washington earn between $117,820 and $191,940.
- $96K10th
- $118K25th
- $159KMedian
- $192K75th
- $221K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $157,210 | $13,101 | $75.58 |
| Median | $159,480 | $13,290 | $76.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $117,820 | $9,818 | $56.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $191,940 | $15,995 | $92.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $157,210, a single filer in Washington takes home about $108,325 a year, or $9,027 a month and $4,166 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $112,408 | $9,367 |
| Working in MD | $111,247 | $9,271 |
| Working in VA | $110,494 | $9,208 |
| Working in DC | $108,325 | $9,027 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for computer hardware engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $157,210 buys what about $144,383 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$150,470
- Lexington Park, MD$130,330
- Charlottesville, VA$122,310
- Richmond, VA$133,680
- Virginia Beach, VA$132,360
- Allentown, PA$188,740
Highest-paying cities for computer hardware engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($208,700).
- San Jose, CA$208,700
- San Francisco, CA$198,010
- Allentown, PA$188,740
- Durham, NC$185,400
- Seattle, WA$180,820
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Computer Hardware Engineers salary in Washington: questions
How much do computer hardware engineers make an hour in Washington?
$75.58 an hour on average, and $76.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer hardware engineers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $117,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer hardware engineers take-home pay in Washington?
About $108,325 a year ($9,027 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $157,210.
Do computer hardware engineers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($164,979).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2061; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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