Computer Engineering Salaries State by State

Many companies are seeking to fill roles for computer engineering jobs, and if you're job searching now, it is important to know what a typical computer engineering salary looks like in the state you plan to work in. Some of the top industries seeking to fill computer engineering jobs include manufacturing, telecommunications and transportation!
Nader Mowlaee

Here's a Look at Computer Engineering Salaries State-By-State

It's no secret that technology jobs are in demand, and a role in computer engineering stands out as one of the most sought-after jobs across various industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer hardware engineers have a five percent job outlook for the years between 2016 and 2026. While companies are seeking to fill roles for computer engineering jobs, it's important to know what a typical computer engineering salary looks like in the state you plan to work. Here's what you need to know:

How Much is the Average Entry-Level Computer Engineering Salary?

As one of the highest-paid engineering majors in the United States, pursuing a degree in computer engineering provides a lucrative career path. Computer engineers just starting out in their career earn an average of $60,775 per year. But several factors can impact your earning potential as a computer engineer as well as how much you can expect from an entry-level computer engineering salary, including your skill set, experience, education level, the location of work and role. For instance, entry-level software engineers can expect an average annual salary of $71,926, according to Payscale. Payscale places this income even higher for entry-level computer hardware engineers at an average starting salary of $73,955 per year. Moreover, most computer engineers hold a bachelor's degree.

What is the Average Salary of a Computer Engineer?

The average computer engineering salary varies across states, roles and sources. According to PayScale, the average annual salary computer engineers make is $75,194. However, Paysa highlights higher average earnings for computer engineers with an average computer engineering salary of $90,765 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places the average salary for a computer engineer even higher with salaries reaching an average of $115,120 per year as of May 2017 for computer hardware engineers.

There are several different career paths you can take when you get a degree in computer engineering. That's because computer engineers often work with testing, developing, designing and implementing software, hardware, systems and networks for computers. Some possible career paths include computer hardware developer, software developer, systems analyst, corporate IT manager and technical writer. These career paths also offer different earning potential. For instance, software developers made an average of $103,560 per year compared to computer hardware engineers average annual earnings of $115,120, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Which Industries are Computer Engineers in Most Demand?

Some of the top industries seeking to fill computer engineering jobs include manufacturing, telecommunications and transportation. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2018 report also highlights that some of the top-paying industries for computer engineers include software publishing and scientific research and development services. Some of the top employers of computer engineers include Telsa Motors, NASA, Verizon, Pratt & Whitney and the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Paysa.

You can find computer engineering jobs in almost every state in America. But the top states hiring computer hardware engineers include California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland and Texas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2018 report. In fact, computer engineers may find places like the District of Columbia (D.C.), the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, metro area and the Los Angeles-Long-Beach-Anaheim, California, metro area ideal for working in due to their high annual earning potential. For instance, a typical computer engineering salary in D.C. averaged $126,770. Computer engineers also have high earning potential in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area as salaries reached an annual mean wage of $144,230. Some of the top-paying states for computer engineering jobs per average per-year wages include California ($131,570), Maryland ($125,290), Massachusetts ($123,650) and Washington ($123,680).

Computer Engineer Salaries State-by-State

Computer engineering jobs offer different salaries in each state. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2018 report highlights that the average per hour rate for computer engineers in Maryland was $60.23 compared to an hourly mean wage of $63.25 for computer engineers who worked in California. These hourly mean wages outpaced the national average rate of $56.66 per hour for computer hardware engineers. However, computer engineers made an average hourly wage of $48.17 in Florida and $56.12 in Texas in May 2018. So, the state you work in can play an important role in impacting your earning potential as a computer engineer. Here are the typical annual salaries computer engineers make on average across the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2018 data:

State  Avg. Salary
Alabama $108,040
Arizona $110,600
Arkansas $109,810
California $131,570
Colorado  $117,120
Connecticut $105,980
Florida  $97,830
Georgia $101,090
Hawaii $96,080
Idaho  $106,680
Illinois $101,630
Indiana  $82,130
Kansas $88,630
Kentucky $85,340
Louisiana $81,660
Maryland  $125,290
Massachusetts $123,650
Minnesota $107,780
Mississippi  $90,320
Missouri  $100,160
Nevada  $88,670
New Hampshire  $114,280
New Jersey  $115,090
New York $114,590
North Carolina $108,090
Ohio $102,820
Oklahoma $103,570
Oregon $111,020
Pennsylvania  $107,410
Rhode Island  $104,400
South Carolina $87,870
Tennessee  $87,910
Texas $116,720
Virginia $119,500
West Virginia  $96,370
Wisconsin $88,780

Final Thoughts

With the ever-evolving interest in technology, computer engineers will continue to be in demand. The great part about pursuing a career in computer engineering is that you can count on a steady income and a higher-than-average salary than most other career paths in the United States. However, it's just as important to consider the impact that your work location has on your salary. By reviewing computer engineering salaries state-by-state, you can have better insight into the typical salary for computer engineers in the location you plan to work.

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