How Much Does a Computer Engineer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$161,740
Computer engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $161,740 a year, or $77.76 an hour. Half of computer engineers earn more than $161,740 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $225,330.
Pay percentiles for computer engineers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44.68 | $92,940 |
| 25th | $60.62 | $126,090 |
| 50th (median) | $77.76 | $161,740 |
| 75th | $97.59 | $202,990 |
| 90th | $108.33 | $225,330 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for computer engineers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $185,180 | $89.03 | +14% |
| Washington | $169,120 | $81.31 | +5% |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 | $80.58 | +4% |
| New Mexico | $165,350 | $79.50 | +2% |
| Texas | $163,860 | $78.78 | +1% |
| New York | $163,470 | $78.59 | +1% |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 | $78.54 | +1% |
| Hawaii | $159,880 | $76.87 | −1% |
| Arizona | $158,280 | $76.10 | −2% |
| Colorado | $156,080 | $75.04 | −3% |
| United States | $161,740 | $77.76 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many computer engineers are there?
BLS counts about 76,660 computer engineers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Computer Hardware Engineers”. The most jobs are in California (19,820), Texas (7,390) and New Mexico (5,260).
The mean (average) annual wage is $162,670, higher than the median of $161,740.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $13,478
- Biweekly
- $6,221
- Weekly
- $3,110
- Daily (8 hours)
- $622
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do computer engineers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for computer engineers is $77.76. The middle 50% earn between $60.62 and $97.59 an hour.
Which state pays computer engineers the most?
California has the highest median wage for computer engineers at $185,180, +14% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for computer engineers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of computer engineers earn less than $92,940 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.