State comparison · 2025
Computer Hardware Engineers salary: California vs District of Columbia
Computer Hardware Engineers in California earn a median of $185,180. In District of Columbia, $163,360. After cost-of-living, the gap is 12.5% — not 13.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+13.4%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
+12.5%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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%
District of Columbia
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median
- $163,360
- p25
- $136,660
- p75
- $195,190
- p10
- $100,690
- p90
- $211,950
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
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.