Salary distribution
Where Illinois computer hardware engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,420 and $147,660, with a median of $107,720.
Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 15 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $132,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 4 | $88,462 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $122,493 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $157,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $141,431 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akuna Capital, LLC | Hardware Engineer III | 2 | $147,531 |
| HCL AMERICA INC | Senior Design Lead | 2 | $105,478 |
| Google LLC | Hardware Engineer | 2 | $143,500 |
| DRW Holdings, LLC | Senior FPGA Developer | 1 | $200,000 |
| TAG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LLC. | DESIGN ENGINEER | 1 | $88,462 |
| L&T Technology Services LLC | Hardware Engineer | 1 | $84,000 |
| Optiver Services US LLC | FPGA Engineer | 1 | $150,000 |
| Polar Operations LLC | Hardware Engineer | 1 | $180,000 |
| Xylo Consulting, LLC. | Design Engineer | 1 | $101,500 |
| Honeywell International, Inc. | Sr Advanced Hardware Engineer | 1 | $139,104 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Hardware Engineer III at Akuna Capital, LLC$144,200ChicagoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364328
- Senior FPGA Developer at DRW Holdings, LLC$200,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-107328
- DESIGN ENGINEER at TAG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LLC.$88,462NAPERVILLEWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-096735
- Hardware Engineer at L&T Technology Services LLC$84,000ChillicotheWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-088749
- FPGA Engineer at Optiver Services US LLC$150,000CHICAGOWage Level IDecided May 30, 2025I-200-25142-009523
- Hardware Engineer at Polar Operations LLC$180,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25140-998529
- Design Engineer at Xylo Consulting, LLC.$101,500PONTIACWage Level IIDecided May 19, 2025I-200-25132-964554
- Sr Advanced Hardware Engineer at Honeywell International, Inc.$139,104St. CharlesWage Level IIIDecided Feb 28, 2025I-200-25052-714537
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Computer Hardware Engineers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $126,247.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | HCL AMERICA INC | 6 | $126,247 |
| Finance and insurance | Akuna Capital, LLC | 5 | $150,862 |
| Professional services | TAG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LLC. | 4 | $88,161 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- 02
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- 03
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- 04
Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
- 05
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- 06
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
- 07
Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
- 08
Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.3%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for computer hardware engineers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$107,720
Compare Computer Hardware Engineers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois is $107,720.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Computer Hardware Engineers?
- The Illinois median is -30.3% versus the BLS national figure of $154,616.
- What is the salary range for Computer Hardware Engineers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $44,400 and the 90th-percentile at $175,670, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Computer Hardware Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.3% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Computer Hardware Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.