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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components. Excludes “Software Developers” (15-1252) and “Web Developers” (15-1254).


National estimates for Computer Hardware Engineers
Industry profile for Computer Hardware Engineers
Geographic profile for Computer Hardware Engineers

National estimates for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
73,750 2.0 % $ 65.50 $ 136,230 0.9 %

Percentile wage estimates for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 37.07 $ 48.02 $ 61.62 $ 79.29 (5)
Annual Wage (2) $ 77,100 $ 99,880 $ 128,170 $ 164,930 (5)


Industry profile for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Computer Hardware Engineers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Computer Hardware Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 14,660 0.65 $ 61.75 $ 128,440
Scientific Research and Development Services 13,360 1.68 $ 82.91 $ 172,460
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 9,240 2.58 $ 64.81 $ 134,800
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 6,030 3.88 $ 68.35 $ 142,160
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 4,930 0.23 $ 56.73 $ 117,990

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 6,030 3.88 $ 68.35 $ 142,160
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 9,240 2.58 $ 64.81 $ 134,800
Scientific Research and Development Services 13,360 1.68 $ 82.91 $ 172,460
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 890 1.05 $ 58.70 $ 122,090
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 3,830 1.01 $ 60.04 $ 124,890

Top paying industries for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 100 0.01 $ 93.57 $ 194,630
Other Information Services 330 0.09 $ 88.29 $ 183,640
Scientific Research and Development Services 13,360 1.68 $ 82.91 $ 172,460
Software Publishers 1,750 0.33 $ 80.57 $ 167,580
Insurance Carriers 40 (7) $ 80.30 $ 167,020


Geographic profile for Computer Hardware Engineers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Computer Hardware Engineers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Computer Hardware Engineers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of computer hardware engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest employment level in Computer Hardware Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 19,910 1.20 2.30 $ 81.72 $ 169,970
Oregon 7,780 4.26 8.14 $ 65.46 $ 136,150
Colorado 5,270 2.01 3.84 $ 65.17 $ 135,540
Texas 5,070 0.41 0.79 $ 55.60 $ 115,640
Virginia 3,590 0.96 1.83 $ 66.91 $ 139,180


Map of location quotient of computer hardware engineers by state, May 2021


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer Hardware Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oregon 7,780 4.26 8.14 $ 65.46 $ 136,150
Colorado 5,270 2.01 3.84 $ 65.17 $ 135,540
Montana 640 1.36 2.59 $ 37.86 $ 78,750
Maryland 3,370 1.32 2.53 $ 61.16 $ 127,200
California 19,910 1.20 2.30 $ 81.72 $ 169,970


Map of annual mean wages of computer hardware engineers by state, May 2021


Top paying states for Computer Hardware Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 19,910 1.20 2.30 $ 81.72 $ 169,970
Washington 1,830 0.57 1.09 $ 80.28 $ 166,980
Virginia 3,590 0.96 1.83 $ 66.91 $ 139,180
Oregon 7,780 4.26 8.14 $ 65.46 $ 136,150
Nevada (8) (8) (8) $ 65.33 $ 135,880



Map of employment of computer hardware engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 7,550 7.07 13.50 $ 88.14 $ 183,320
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 7,430 6.62 12.64 $ 65.77 $ 136,800
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,230 1.44 2.76 $ 67.77 $ 140,970
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,880 1.73 3.31 $ 89.04 $ 185,210
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 3,870 2.78 5.32 $ 77.68 $ 161,580
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 2,600 1.01 1.92 $ 56.57 $ 117,660
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,220 0.26 0.49 $ 62.97 $ 130,970
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,940 0.34 0.65 $ 68.95 $ 143,420
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,930 0.54 1.03 $ 57.11 $ 118,780
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,770 1.21 2.31 $ 62.33 $ 129,640


Map of location quotient of computer hardware engineers by area, May 2021


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Fort Collins, CO 1,360 8.53 16.29 $ 70.65 $ 146,950
Corvallis, OR 270 7.56 14.45 $ 61.42 $ 127,760
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 7,550 7.07 13.50 $ 88.14 $ 183,320
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 7,430 6.62 12.64 $ 65.77 $ 136,800
Boulder, CO 1,140 6.25 11.94 $ 66.98 $ 139,310
California-Lexington Park, MD 230 5.07 9.68 $ 55.70 $ 115,850
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 750 3.40 6.49 $ 61.76 $ 128,470
Colorado Springs, CO 860 3.00 5.74 $ 60.94 $ 126,740
Huntsville, AL 680 2.97 5.68 $ 59.39 $ 123,540
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 3,870 2.78 5.32 $ 77.68 $ 161,580


Map of annual mean wages of computer hardware engineers by area, May 2021


Top paying metropolitan areas for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 3,880 1.73 3.31 $ 89.04 $ 185,210
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 7,550 7.07 13.50 $ 88.14 $ 183,320
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 3,870 2.78 5.32 $ 77.68 $ 161,580
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA 70 0.36 0.69 $ 74.33 $ 154,610
Fort Collins, CO 1,360 8.53 16.29 $ 70.65 $ 146,950
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,940 0.34 0.65 $ 68.95 $ 143,420
Oklahoma City, OK 170 0.28 0.53 $ 68.61 $ 142,710
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,230 1.44 2.76 $ 67.77 $ 140,970
Boulder, CO 1,140 6.25 11.94 $ 66.98 $ 139,310
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 7,430 6.62 12.64 $ 65.77 $ 136,800

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 180 1.29 2.46 $ 39.08 $ 81,280
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 180 3.65 6.97 $ 52.58 $ 109,360
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.07 $ 42.58 $ 88,560
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 60 0.25 0.49 $ 36.26 $ 75,410
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 50 0.38 0.73 $ 57.94 $ 120,510

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Computer Hardware Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 180 3.65 6.97 $ 52.58 $ 109,360
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 180 1.29 2.46 $ 39.08 $ 81,280
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.07 $ 42.58 $ 88,560
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 50 0.38 0.73 $ 57.94 $ 120,510
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 60 0.25 0.49 $ 36.26 $ 75,410

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 50 0.38 0.73 $ 57.94 $ 120,510
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 180 3.65 6.97 $ 52.58 $ 109,360
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 40 0.20 0.37 $ 46.61 $ 96,960
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.07 $ 42.58 $ 88,560
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 180 1.29 2.46 $ 39.08 $ 81,280


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022