Wisconsin · SOC 17-2061

Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Wisconsin; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$83,670

per year in this state

48% below

National Median

$161,740

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$40.23/hr

median hourly

Employment

270

jobs in WI

Salary Range in Wisconsin

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$68,330
25th$77,700
Median$83,670
75th$103,640
90th$172,820

What This Means for Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Wisconsin ranks #40 of 42 states and territories for Computer Hardware Engineers pay, the bottom 6% nationally. Computer Hardware Engineers working in Wisconsin earn a median salary of $83,670, which is 48% below the national median of $161,740. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $68,330 at the 10th percentile to $172,820 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Computer Hardware Engineers labor market inside Wisconsin using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $83,670 ($40.23/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 270 workers in this SOC code (17-2061). Relative to the national median of $161,740, the state estimate is 48% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Wisconsin, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $68,330, the 25th earns $77,700, the 75th reaches $103,640, and the 90th hits $172,820. The upper boundary is roughly 2.5× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Wisconsin where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Wisconsin

Similar Occupations in Wisconsin

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Computer Hardware Engineers pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Wisconsin. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 17-2061. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Computer Hardware Engineers make in Wisconsin?
The median annual salary for Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin is $83,670 (48% below national avg). Pay ranges from $68,330 (10th percentile) to $172,820 (90th percentile).
How many Computer Hardware Engineers work in Wisconsin?
There are approximately 270 Computer Hardware Engineers employed in Wisconsin, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin?
The median hourly wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin is $40.23/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Wisconsin.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Wisconsin figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.