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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

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)
64,710 3.9 % $ 60.65 $ 126,140 1.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for Computer Hardware Engineers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 33.70 $ 43.42 $ 57.48 $ 73.77 $ 92.36
Annual Wage (2) $ 70,100 $ 90,310 $ 119,560 $ 153,450 $ 192,110


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 14,940 0.68 $ 60.62 $ 126,100
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 7,920 2.15 $ 58.15 $ 120,960
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,950 0.79 $ 69.16 $ 143,850
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 4,890 0.23 $ 56.41 $ 117,340
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 3,630 0.87 $ 62.33 $ 129,640

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)
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 1,920 2.27 $ 60.31 $ 125,450
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 7,920 2.15 $ 58.15 $ 120,960
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 3,350 2.08 $ 70.78 $ 147,220
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 3,540 0.99 $ 56.70 $ 117,940
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 3,630 0.87 $ 62.33 $ 129,640

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 $ 81.82 $ 170,190
Software Publishers 2,050 0.42 $ 78.98 $ 164,270
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 3,350 2.08 $ 70.78 $ 147,220
Insurance Carriers 50 (7) $ 70.04 $ 145,680
Scientific Research and Development Services 5,950 0.79 $ 69.16 $ 143,850


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.





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 15,140 0.92 1.98 $ 73.91 $ 153,730
Texas 4,670 0.39 0.83 $ 54.62 $ 113,610
Colorado 4,350 1.69 3.63 $ 57.32 $ 119,230
Florida 3,930 0.47 1.00 $ 49.33 $ 102,610
Maryland 3,170 1.25 2.70 $ 60.99 $ 126,870




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)
Colorado 4,350 1.69 3.63 $ 57.32 $ 119,230
Rhode Island 560 1.27 2.72 $ 50.75 $ 105,570
Maryland 3,170 1.25 2.70 $ 60.99 $ 126,870
California 15,140 0.92 1.98 $ 73.91 $ 153,730
District of Columbia 510 0.75 1.60 $ 60.43 $ 125,700




Top paying states for Computer Hardware Engineers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 1,750 0.55 1.18 $ 80.92 $ 168,320
California 15,140 0.92 1.98 $ 73.91 $ 153,730
Massachusetts 2,400 0.72 1.54 $ 66.67 $ 138,680
Maryland 3,170 1.25 2.70 $ 60.99 $ 126,870
New York 1,100 0.13 0.27 $ 60.82 $ 126,510





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 6,980 6.33 13.61 $ 86.33 $ 179,570
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,460 1.14 2.46 $ 62.49 $ 129,980
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,700 0.46 1.00 $ 59.83 $ 124,440
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 2,250 0.96 2.07 $ 64.88 $ 134,950
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,130 0.59 1.28 $ 56.21 $ 116,910
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,840 0.71 1.52 $ 73.93 $ 153,780
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,830 0.21 0.45 $ 61.07 $ 127,030
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,790 1.23 2.64 $ 53.35 $ 110,960
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,680 0.64 1.38 $ 53.02 $ 110,280
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,660 0.85 1.83 $ 82.47 $ 171,540




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)
California-Lexington Park, MD 300 6.60 14.20 $ 59.59 $ 123,950
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 6,980 6.33 13.61 $ 86.33 $ 179,570
Fort Collins, CO 830 5.34 11.47 $ 62.22 $ 129,420
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 950 4.42 9.49 $ 53.91 $ 112,130
Boulder, CO 750 4.12 8.85 $ 58.65 $ 122,000
Huntsville, AL 930 4.01 8.62 $ 56.63 $ 117,790
Colorado Springs, CO 930 3.35 7.21 $ 59.74 $ 124,250
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 160 1.48 3.18 $ 48.31 $ 100,490
Panama City, FL 110 1.45 3.12 $ 47.04 $ 97,840
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 390 1.30 2.79 $ 59.65 $ 124,070




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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 6,980 6.33 13.61 $ 86.33 $ 179,570
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,660 0.85 1.83 $ 82.47 $ 171,540
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 1,840 0.71 1.52 $ 73.93 $ 153,780
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 1,110 0.79 1.71 $ 64.91 $ 135,010
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 2,250 0.96 2.07 $ 64.88 $ 134,950
Binghamton, NY 80 0.84 1.81 $ 63.74 $ 132,580
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 120 0.39 0.84 $ 63.73 $ 132,550
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,460 1.14 2.46 $ 62.49 $ 129,980
Fort Collins, CO 830 5.34 11.47 $ 62.22 $ 129,420
Corvallis, OR (8) (8) (8) $ 61.48 $ 127,880

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)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 200 4.28 9.19 $ 50.98 $ 106,030
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.20 $ 42.56 $ 88,520
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 90 0.64 1.37 $ 52.53 $ 109,260
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 70 0.32 0.68 (8) (8)
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 40 0.18 0.38 $ 32.99 $ 68,610

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 200 4.28 9.19 $ 50.98 $ 106,030
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 90 0.64 1.37 $ 52.53 $ 109,260
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.20 $ 42.56 $ 88,520
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area 70 0.32 0.68 (8) (8)
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 40 0.24 0.51 (8) (8)

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 90 0.64 1.37 $ 52.53 $ 109,260
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 200 4.28 9.19 $ 50.98 $ 106,030
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 100 0.56 1.20 $ 42.56 $ 88,520
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 40 0.18 0.38 $ 32.99 $ 68,610


About May 2020 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.

(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 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021