Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina 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 $95,360 and $178,360, with a median of $134,670.
Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 44 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $146,637. 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 | 1 | $96,750 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $142,952 |
| Level III — experienced | 15 | $163,361 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $179,457 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | Silicon Engineering | 23 | $162,200 |
| Lenovo (United States) Inc | Engineer, HW | 4 | $125,759 |
| Lenovo Global Technology (United States) Inc | System Engineer | 4 | $135,192 |
| JEAN MARTIN INC | Computer Hardware Engineer | 2 | $85,758 |
| APPLAB SYSTEMS INC | LabVIEW Developer | 1 | $94,390 |
| Arm, Inc. | Senior Engineer | 1 | $171,912 |
| Baya Systems, Inc. | Principal Engineer-Physical Design | 1 | $225,000 |
| Cornelis Networks, Inc. | ASIC Verification Engineer | 1 | $96,750 |
| Insight Global, LLC | Platform Engineer | 1 | $140,130 |
| Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. | Design Verification Senior Engineer | 1 | $104,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Engineer at Arm, Inc.$171,912DurhamWage Level IIIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-712381
- Silicon Engineering at Microsoft Corporation$166,551MorrisvilleWage Level IIIDecided Mar 16, 2026I-200-26068-688201
- Engineer, HW at Lenovo Global Technology (United States) Inc$103,002MorrisvilleWage Level IIDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-655170
- Principal Engineer-Physical Design at Baya Systems, Inc.$225,000HarrisburgWage Level IVDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26045-641612
- Workstation Solutions Engineer 1 at Lenovo (United States) Inc$110,318MorrisvilleDecided Feb 10, 2026I-200-26034-617042
- Design Verification Senior Engineer at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.$104,000MorrisvilleWage Level IIDecided Jan 22, 2026I-200-26014-560638
- Silicon Engineering at Microsoft Corporation$162,200MorrisvilleWage Level IIIDecided Jan 7, 2026I-200-25364-515583
- Sr Systems Engineer at Motorola Solutions, Inc.$117,250MATTHEWSWage Level IIIDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502606
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.
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Computer Hardware Engineers pay by experience level in North Carolina
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 specialties in North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 29 certified offers. The most common variant is Silicon Engineering at a median of $162,200.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Engineering | Microsoft Corporation | 23 | $162,200 |
| Engineer, HW | Arm, Inc. | 3 | $113,884 |
| System Engineer | Lenovo Global Technology (United States) Inc | 3 | $137,634 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 44 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $155,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 37 | $155,000 |
| Manufacturing | Lenovo (United States) Inc | 7 | $113,884 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina is $134,670.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Computer Hardware Engineers?
- The North Carolina median is -12.4% versus the BLS national figure of $153,735.
- What is the salary range for Computer Hardware Engineers in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $74,310 and the 90th-percentile at $234,390, 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.