State comparison · 2025
Computer Hardware Engineers salary: Alabama vs California
Computer Hardware Engineers in California earn a median of $185,180. In Alabama, $136,990. After cost-of-living, the gap is 7.8% — not 26%.
Nominal pay gap
-26%
Alabama vs California
COL-adjusted gap
-7.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Alabama
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median
- $136,990
- p25
- $107,180
- p75
- $163,750
- p10
- $80,680
- p90
- $195,190
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.8
California
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median
- $185,180
- p25
- $150,700
- p75
- $219,980
- p10
- $126,590
- p90
- $281,210
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -19%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.