Computer Hardware Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $174,440 a year ($83.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,330 workers.
Pay ranges from $122,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,940 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $161,740. Pay here is 6% lower than the California statewide median of $185,180. There are 2.2 computer hardware engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $177,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer hardware engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $122,910 | $59.09 |
| 25th percentile | $133,890 | $64.37 |
| Median | $174,440 | $83.87 |
| 75th percentile | $218,150 | $104.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $227,940 | $109.59 |
| Average (mean) | $177,800 | $85.48 |
Half of computer hardware engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,536.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,268.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,709.23 |
| Weekly | $3,354.62 |
| Hourly | $83.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $174,440 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Computer Hardware Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $209,860 | 7,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $203,890 | 2,810 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $169,370 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $158,530 | 1,870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $148,440 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $134,060 | 200 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $127,730 | 380 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $126,460 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for computer hardware engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $185,180 |
| Washington | $169,120 |
| Massachusetts | $167,600 |
| New Mexico | $165,350 |
| Texas | $163,860 |
| New York | $163,470 |
| District of Columbia | $163,360 |
| Hawaii | $159,880 |
| Arizona | $158,280 |
| Colorado | $156,080 |
See Computer Hardware Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $108,900 | $52.35 |
| Industrial Engineer | $119,050 | $57.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,750 | $58.54 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,270 | $61.19 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,010 | $64.91 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,390 | $57.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,270 | $61.67 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $124,740 | $59.97 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $118,100 | $56.78 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $91,620 | $44.05 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for computer hardware engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $174,440 a year, or $83.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $122,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $227,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer hardware engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of computer hardware engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $227,940 a year. The top 25% earn $218,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer hardware engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $122,910 a year, and a quarter of computer hardware engineers earn $133,890 or less.
How many computer hardware engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 3,330 computer hardware engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.