Computer Hardware Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 53 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes San Marcos.
Also listed as: Hardware Development Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $142,701 |
| 25th | $159,000 |
| 50th (median) | $174,000 |
| 75th | $198,234 |
| 90th | $200,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $111,134 | $110,000 | $130,000 | 13 |
| FY2021 | $150,000 | $112,103 | $185,000 | 21 |
| FY2022 | $159,016 | $135,013 | $170,000 | 46 |
| FY2023 | $154,250 | $136,250 | $190,843 | 18 |
| FY2024 | $165,069 | $154,000 | $183,248 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $169,000 | $158,713 | $191,152 | 32 |
| FY2026 | $175,000 | $162,000 | $200,000 | 21 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Computer Hardware Engineer salary of $174,000 is worth about $155,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Hardware Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $174,440 in May 2025 (3,330 employed). The H-1B median here is $174,000, 0% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| $172,000 | 27 | |
| Intel | too few | 7 |
| Apple | too few | 4 |
| Arm | too few | 3 |
| Microsoft | too few | 2 |
| Samsung Austin Semiconductor | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $166,000 | 20 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 8 |
| Expert · Level IV | $198,598 | 14 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $138,965 | $166,000 | 20 |
| Expert · Level IV | $198,598 | $198,598 | 14 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.