Computer Hardware Engineers pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $110,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $260,460 or more. The middle half of computer hardware engineers in Boston earn between $130,970 and $210,910.
- $111K10th
- $131K25th
- $168KMedian
- $211K75th
- $260K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $176,740 | $14,728 | $84.97 |
| Median | $167,600 | $13,967 | $80.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $130,970 | $10,914 | $62.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $210,910 | $17,576 | $101.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Computer hardware engineers in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($177,030) and 9% more than the U.S. average ($162,670). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $161,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $176,740 | $167,600 | $110,730 | $260,460 | 2,840 |
| Massachusetts | $177,030 | $167,600 | $118,490 | $258,880 | 3,150 |
| United States | $162,670 | $161,740 | $92,940 | $225,330 | 76,660 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $176,740, a single filer in Boston takes home about $123,551 a year, or $10,296 a month and $4,752 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $132,068 | $11,006 |
| Working in MA | $123,551 | $10,296 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for computer hardware engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $176,740 buys what about $163,246 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Hardware Engineers salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$176,740
- Worcester$158,400
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 Boston: questions
How much do computer hardware engineers make an hour in Boston?
$84.97 an hour on average, and $80.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer hardware engineers salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $110,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $130,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer hardware engineers take-home pay in Boston?
About $123,551 a year ($10,296 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $176,740. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do computer hardware engineers earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($162,670).
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.13, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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