### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Computer Hardware Engineers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			computer hardware engineers imageComputer hardware engineers solve problems that arise in computer hardware.							
						Quick Facts:     Computer Hardware Engineers2023     Median Pay
            						$138,080     per year
										$66.38     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Bachelor's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    78,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,600What Computer Hardware Engineers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Computer hardware engineers usually work in research laboratories that build and test various types of computer models. Most work in computer systems design services and in manufacturing.
            
                                                How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer
                                                
                        
Computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers was $138,080 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 4,600 openings for computer hardware engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for computer hardware engineers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of computer hardware engineers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about computer hardware engineers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Computer Hardware Engineers Do 
            

			Computer hardware engineersComputer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as circuit boards.			
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer systems and components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, networks, and routers.
Duties
Computer hardware engineers typically do the following:
Design new computer hardware, creating schematics of computer equipment to be built
Test the computer hardware they design
Analyze the test results and modify the design as needed
Update existing computer equipment so that it will work with new software
Oversee the manufacturing process for computer hardwareMany hardware engineers design devices used in manufactured products that incorporate processors and other computer components and that connect to the Internet. For example, many new cars, home appliances, and medical devices have Internet-ready computer systems built into them.
Computer hardware engineers ensure that computer hardware components work together with the latest software. Therefore, hardware engineers often work with software developers. For example, the hardware and software for mobile phones and other devices frequently are developed at the same time.
 Work Environment
			Computer hardware engineersMost hardware engineers work in labs where they test different types of computer models.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Computer hardware engineers held about 78,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of computer hardware engineers were as follows:
        Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                20%Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
                16Computer systems design and related services
                15Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing
                8Federal government
                7Work Schedules
Most computer hardware engineers work full time.
 How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer

			Computer hardware engineersEntry-level computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or a related field, such as computer and information technology.			
Computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program.
Education
Entry-level computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or a related field, such as computer and information technology. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an engineering program accredited by a professional association, such as ABET. To prepare for a major in computer or electrical engineering, students should have a solid background in math and science.
Because hardware engineers commonly work with computer software systems, a familiarity with computer programming is usually expected. This background may be obtained through computer science courses.
Some large firms or specialized jobs may require a master’s degree in computer engineering. Some experienced engineers obtain a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). All engineers must continue their learning over the course of their careers in order to keep up with rapid advances in technology.
Other Experience
Some students participate in internships while in school so that they can gain practical experience.
Advancement
Some computer hardware engineers can advance to become computer and information systems managers.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Computer hardware engineers use computer programming tools to analyze the digital circuits in hardware to determine the best design.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** These engineers use logic and reasoning to clarify goals, examine assumptions, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Computer hardware engineers identify complex problems in computer hardware, develop and evaluate possible solutions, and figure out the best way to implement them.
***Communication skills.*** Engineers often work on teams and must be able to communicate with other types of engineers, software developers and programmers, as well as with nontechnical team members.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Computer Hardware EngineersMedian annual wages, May 2023Computer hardware engineers$138,080  Engineers$102,660  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers was $138,080 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $81,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $212,770.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for computer hardware engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
                $169,260Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing
                167,600Computer systems design and related services
                140,670Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
                135,420Federal government
                128,020Most computer hardware engineers work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Computer Hardware EngineersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Engineers7%  Computer hardware engineers5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 4,600 openings for computer hardware engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for computer hardware engineers is expected to grow, as these workers are needed to design parts for manufactured products that use processors and other components, such as household appliances, medical devices, and automobiles. As new technologies expand, however, an expected uptick in focus on software innovation compared with hardware may temper demand for these engineers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     computer hardware engineers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Computer hardware engineers**
			17-2061
			78,100
			81,600
			5
			3,600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Computer hardware engineers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of computer hardware engineers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Aerospace Engineers**
            Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,720**Computer and Information Research Scientists**
            Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology.
            Master's degree
            $145,080**Computer and Information Systems Managers**
            Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization.
            Bachelor's degree
            $169,510**Computer Network Architects**
            Computer network architects design and implement data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets.
            Bachelor's degree
            $129,840**Computer Programmers**
            Computer programmers write, modify, and test code and scripts that allow computer software and applications to function properly.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,700**Electrical and Electronics Engineers**
            Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment.
            Bachelor's degree
            $109,010**Mechanical Engineers**
            Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices.
            Bachelor's degree
            $99,510**Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers**
            Software developers design computer applications or programs. Software quality assurance analysts and testers identify problems with applications or programs and report defects.
            Bachelor's degree
            $130,160**Network and Computer Systems Administrators**
            Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ computer networks and systems.
            Bachelor's degree
            $95,360
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about computer hardware engineers, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
IEEE Computer Society
For more information about ABET-accredited college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology, visit
ABET
CareerOneStop
For a career video on computer hardware engineers, visit
Computer Hardware Engineers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Computer Hardware Engineers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer Hardware Engineers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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