Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Computer Hardware Engineer's pay go, state by state?
A Computer Hardware Engineer's pay leaves the most room in California — about $11,031/mo take-home against $1,969/mo typical rent — and the least in Tennessee.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $11,031/mo | $1,969/mo | 18% |
| Massachusetts | $10,648/mo | $1,716/mo | 16% |
| Washington | $10,115/mo | $1,641/mo | 16% |
| Connecticut | $9,532/mo | $1,483/mo | 16% |
| New Hampshire | $9,394/mo | $1,424/mo | 15% |
| Virginia | $9,464/mo | $1,547/mo | 16% |
| Montana | $8,734/mo | $1,031/mo | 12% |
| Alabama | $8,640/mo | $967/mo | 11% |
| North Carolina | $8,516/mo | $1,147/mo | 13% |
| Alaska | $8,692/mo | $1,361/mo | 16% |
| Oregon | $8,699/mo | $1,431/mo | 16% |
| Colorado | $8,893/mo | $1,659/mo | 19% |
| Maryland | $8,916/mo | $1,683/mo | 19% |
| New York | $8,851/mo | $1,621/mo | 18% |
| Arizona | $8,618/mo | $1,419/mo | 16% |
| Oklahoma | $8,150/mo | $970/mo | 12% |
| District of Columbia | $9,014/mo | $1,900/mo | 21% |
| Illinois | $8,033/mo | $1,246/mo | 16% |
| Texas | $8,101/mo | $1,328/mo | 16% |
| New Jersey | $8,415/mo | $1,656/mo | 20% |
| South Carolina | $7,829/mo | $1,131/mo | 14% |
| Michigan | $7,515/mo | $1,072/mo | 14% |
| Pennsylvania | $7,549/mo | $1,176/mo | 16% |
| Nebraska | $7,077/mo | $1,017/mo | 14% |
| Minnesota | $7,287/mo | $1,230/mo | 17% |
| Rhode Island | $7,233/mo | $1,289/mo | 18% |
| Delaware | $7,168/mo | $1,321/mo | 18% |
| Florida | $7,363/mo | $1,542/mo | 21% |
| North Dakota | $6,548/mo | $911/mo | 14% |
| Georgia | $6,920/mo | $1,320/mo | 19% |
| Iowa | $6,499/mo | $932/mo | 14% |
| Wisconsin | $6,520/mo | $1,033/mo | 16% |
| Ohio | $6,442/mo | $986/mo | 15% |
| Louisiana | $6,287/mo | $1,028/mo | 16% |
| Kansas | $6,055/mo | $1,025/mo | 17% |
| Utah | $6,340/mo | $1,396/mo | 22% |
| Nevada | $6,369/mo | $1,478/mo | 23% |
| Indiana | $5,797/mo | $1,022/mo | 18% |
| Hawaii | $6,659/mo | $1,927/mo | 29% |
| Missouri | $5,686/mo | $997/mo | 18% |
| Arkansas | $5,384/mo | $903/mo | 17% |
| Mississippi | $5,292/mo | $933/mo | 18% |
| Tennessee | $5,295/mo | $1,111/mo | 21% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.