What does a Computer Hardware Engineers salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Computer Hardware Engineers earning $98,040 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $106,218 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $67,220 | $72,827 | +$5,607 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,950 | $85,536 | +$6,586 |
| Median (P50) | $98,040 | $106,218 | +$8,178 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $107,050 | $115,980 | +$8,930 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $147,050 | $159,317 | +$12,267 |
A Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin earns $98,040 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $106,218 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin ranks #38 out of 43 states for Computer Hardware Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Computer Hardware Engineers in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $98,040 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $106,218 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (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 Wisconsin: $98,040 x (100 / 92.3) = $106,218. 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 Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% 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.