What does a Computer Hardware Engineers salary really buy you in Utah?
Utah is 5.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Utah's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.5, meaning prices are 5.5% lower the national average. A Computer Hardware Engineers earning $104,080 in Utah has the equivalent purchasing power of $110,137 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Utah's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $70,600 | $74,708 | +$4,108 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $82,860 | $87,682 | +$4,822 |
| Median (P50) | $104,080 | $110,137 | +$6,057 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $129,660 | $137,206 | +$7,546 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $163,880 | $173,417 | +$9,537 |
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Utah earns $104,080 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $110,137 in an average-cost state. This makes Utah one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Computer Hardware Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Utah ranks #34 out of 43 states for Computer Hardware Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Computer Hardware Engineers in Utah earns a median salary of $104,080 per year. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (RPP=94.5), the real purchasing power is $110,137 — a +5.8% difference.
Utah's cost of living is 5.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Utah is 94.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Computer Hardware Engineers in Utah: $104,080 x (100 / 94.5) = $110,137. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Computer Hardware Engineers in Utah enjoys 5.8% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.