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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hardware Support Engineer in California is $90,616 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.
However, a Hardware Support Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Hardware Support Engineer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $97,971 | $8,164 | $1,884 | $47 |
| Average | $90,616 | $7,551 | $1,743 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,915 | $6,910 | $1,595 | $40 |
Vertex Sigma Software - Foster City, CA
Astreya - San Bruno, CA
Mill - San Bruno, CA
Belcan - Palo Alto, CA
A Hardware Support Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Hardware Support Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Support Engineer | $90,075 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Support Engineer | $107,688 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Support Engineer | $124,866 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Support Engineer | $151,654 |
| Hardware ... Level Hardware Support Engineer | $179,020 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Hardware Support Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Hardware Support Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Hardware Support Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Hardware Support Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $108,739 | $52.0 | 20% |
| Financial Services | $106,927 | $51.0 | 18% |
| Business Services | $99,678 | $48.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $99,678 | $48.0 | 10% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $99,678 | $48.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Hardware Support Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $97,971 | $8,164 | $1,884 | $47 |
| Average | $90,616 | $7,551 | $1,743 | $44 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,915 | $6,910 | $1,595 | $40 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Hardware Support Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
MILLENNIUMSOFT
San Ysidro, CA
MILLENNIUMSOFT | San Ysidro, CA
Position :Hardware Quality EngineerLocation :San Diego, CADuration :12 MonthsTotal Hours / week :40.001st ShiftClient :Medical Devices CompanyJob Category ... more
2 Days Ago
Avance Consulting
Irvine, CA
Avance Consulting | Irvine, CA
Title: Hardware Design Engineer. Location: Irvine, CA(Onsite). Contract. Experience Required. 4-7 years of experience in Electronics Circuit Design , Testi... more
3 Days Ago
DensityAI
Mountain View, CA
DensityAI | Mountain View, CA
Job Description. Job Description. About the role. Own the reliability of the advanced packages and systems that turn our AI accelerator silicon into produc... more
3 Days Ago
TSMG
Mountain View, CA
TSMG | Mountain View, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Our client is looking for a hands-on, detailed-oriented Hardware Test Engineer to support product manufacturing and testi... more
3 Days Ago
Furientis
Los Angeles, CA
Furientis | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. America is critically deficient in production of defensive munitions- we currently produce shipborne interceptors in the ... more
3 Days Ago
HCLTech
Irvine, CA
HCLTech | Irvine, CA
HCLTech is looking for a. Hardware Design & Validation Engineer (4-7 years). with expertise in board bring-up, debugging, EMI/EMC testing, and high-speed i... more
4 Days Ago
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