How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer in Wisconsin: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median computer hardware engineer salary in Wisconsin is $83,670 per year - 48% below the national median of $161,740 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in computer or electrical engineering.
Computer Hardware Engineer Salary in Wisconsin
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin entry level (10th percentile) | $68,330 |
| Wisconsin 25th-75th percentile | $77,700 - $103,640 |
| Wisconsin median | $83,670 |
| Wisconsin top earners (90th percentile) | $172,820 |
| U.S. median | $161,740 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 270.
The Wisconsin Job Market: Computer Hardware Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Wisconsin | 270 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.09 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.19 |
| Mean annual wage in Wisconsin | $101,690 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.19, Wisconsin employs computer hardware engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Requirements in Wisconsin
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in computer or electrical engineering - while licensing runs through Wisconsin’s own boards: No license required. Verify current requirements with the Wisconsin licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,940 |
| 25th | $126,090 |
| 50th (median) | $161,740 |
| 75th | $202,990 |
| 90th | $225,330 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 76,800 |
| 2034 projected | 82,400 |
| Percent change | +7.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a computer hardware engineer make in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers in Wisconsin is $83,670 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 48% below the national median of $161,740.
How do I become a computer hardware engineer in Wisconsin?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in computer or electrical engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: No license required. See the steps below.
How many computer hardware engineers work in Wisconsin?
BLS counts about 270 computer hardware engineers employed in Wisconsin (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Computer Hardware Engineer in Nearby States
- Computer Hardware Engineer in Virginia
- Computer Hardware Engineer in Washington
- Computer Hardware Engineer in Alabama
- Computer Hardware Engineer in Arizona
Related
- How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061), Wisconsin and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |