Career Definition for a Computer Hardware Engineer
The rapid improvements seen in computer technology are largely due to the work of computer hardware engineers. The responsibilities of a computer hardware engineer may include designing and testing new keyboards, computer chips or printers or overseeing the manufacturing of these types of items. A computer hardware engineer usually works indoors in a typical office or laboratory and has a traditional 40-hour work week.
| Education | Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering or related field; some positions may require a master's degree |
| Job Skills | Analytical, creative, communication, detail-oriented |
| Median Salary (2021)* | $128,170 (all computer hardware engineers) |
| Job Growth (2021-2031)* | 5% (all computer hardware engineers) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Education Required
A 4-year degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering or a related field is required for most jobs in computer hardware engineering; however, a master's degree may be necessary for some specialties, supervisory or high-ranking positions with cutting-edge companies. Coursework for the student computer hardware engineer cover such topics as engineering electronics, electric circuits, computer design and statistics for engineers.
Skills Required
Those with successful careers in computer hardware engineering are usually creative, analytically-minded and detail-oriented people who enjoy being part of a team. Because computer hardware engineers must relate with people from a variety of fields, good interpersonal skills are also important.
Career and Economic Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for computer hardware engineers to grow at an average rate of 5% from 2021-2031 when compared to other occupations, partly due to the fact that more growth is seen within the software rather than hardware sector. The BLS reported median annual earnings of $128,170 in 2021 for computer hardware engineers, with the highest 25% of earners making $164,930 or more yearly.
Alternative Careers
A degree program in computer science or engineering can prepare you for a variety of occupations, including designing computer networks and electronics engineering.
Computer Network Architect
If designing communication networks and determining what computer equipment should be included sounds interesting, consider becoming a computer network architect. Network architects create network plans, make software and hardware selections, submit their ideas to management, lay out equipment placement and explore new technological advances that could benefit the company. To enter this profession, a computer-related bachelor's degree is usually necessary, as is job experience in a lower-level position, such as computer systems analysis or network administration. According to the BLS, over 174,800 network architects were employed in the U.S. in 2021 and earned a median annual salary of $120,520. Employment of these architects is predicted to grow by 4% during the 2021-2031 decade, as reported by the BLS.
Electronics Engineer
For those interested in designing the pieces that make up electronic products and systems, becoming an electronics engineer could be a strong career option. Electronics engineers create electrical components for government, scientific, medical and commercial industries. They draft schematic plans, estimate costs, create testing procedures, execute inspections, suggest modifications and look for ways to boost performance. A bachelor's degree in electronics engineering or a related area is required to qualify for employment in the field. Although not required, earning a Professional Engineer license could provide a competitive advantage when seeking employment. The BLS projected electronics engineering job opportunities to increase by 6% from 2021-2031, mostly attributed to decreased U.S. manufacturing operations. Based on BLS figures from May of 2021, electronics engineers not employed in the computer industry received $104,820 in median annual income.
