Computer Hardware Engineers earn a median of $161,740 per year ($77.76/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 9.1% through 2035, with about 4,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2061
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Computer Hardware Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $161,740a year, or $77.76/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $93KTop 10% $225K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +9.1%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+9.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +9.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4,10076,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202576.1K
- Projected 203583K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 76.1K Projected 2035 83K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college6.9%
- Bachelor's48.3%
- Master's34.5%
- Professional degree3.5%
- Doctorate6.9%
Highest education held by computer hardware engineers Segment Value Some college 6.9% Bachelor's 48.3% Master's 34.5% Professional degree 3.5% Doctorate 6.9%
Also advertised as: Design Engineer, Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Hardware Design Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Physical Design Engineer.
Pay
How much do Computer Hardware Engineers make?
Every computer hardware engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$161,740
Middle half earn $126,090 to $202,990
- 10th
- $92,940
- 25th
- $126,090
- 75th
- $202,990
- 90th
- $225,330
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,940 |
| 25th | $126,090 |
| Median | $161,740 |
| 75th | $202,990 |
| 90th | $225,330 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $161,740
- Median hourly wage
- $77.76/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $162,670
- People employed
- 76,660
Versus all US occupations
At $161,740, Computer Hardware Engineers earn 217% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $110,760 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 55% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $225,330 or more while the bottom 10% earn $92,940, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 94% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($185,180), but once local prices are taken into account New Mexico leads at $179,315 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Computer Hardware Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $185,180 | $167,251 | 19,820 |
| 2Washington | $169,120 | $158,037 | 1,800 |
| 3Massachusetts | $167,600 | $158,477 | 3,150 |
| 4New Mexico | $165,350 | $179,315 | 5,260 |
| 5Texas | $163,860 | $168,829 | 7,390 |
| 6New York | $163,470 | $151,472 | 3,020 |
| 7District of Columbia | $163,360 | $148,643 | 210 |
| 8Hawaii | $159,880 | $145,410 | 90 |
| 9Arizona | $158,280 | $157,216 | 3,110 |
| 10Colorado | $156,080 | $151,458 | 2,660 |
Job outlook
Is Computer Hardware Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +9.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | +9.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Computer Hardware Engineers to change 9.1% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.6× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 4,100 openings are projected each year, 5.4% of the 76,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
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.
Getting in
How to become a Computer Hardware Engineer
Computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or a related field.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as computer hardware engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree48.3%
- Master's Degree34.5%
- Some College Courses6.9%
- Doctoral Degree6.9%
- First Professional Degree3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 48.3% |
| Master's Degree | 34.5% |
| Some College Courses | 6.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 6.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Computer Hardware Engineer do?
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computers and related equipment, such as processors, circuit boards, and memory devices.
Day-to-day tasks
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
- Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
- Provide training and support to system designers and users.
- Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most computer hardware engineers work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where computer hardware engineers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing24%
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences18%
- Computer systems design and related services15%
- Information7%
- Federal government, excluding postal service6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing | 24% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 18% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 15% |
| Information | 7% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Mathematics3.3
- Monitoring3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Operations Analysis3.4
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Time Management3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Compiler and decompiler software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Computer Hardware Engineer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Computer Hardware Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic5.7
- Investigative5.6
- Conventional5.4
- Enterprising2.0
- Artistic1.8
- Social1.8
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Computer Hardware Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Computer and Mathematical
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More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with computer hardware engineers highlighted
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within computer hardware engineer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Computer Hardware Engineer appears on
Questions
Computer Hardware Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Computer Hardware Engineers make?
Computer Hardware Engineers earn a median of $161,740 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 217% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $77.76/hr. The middle half earn between $126,090 and $202,990. The top 10% earn $225,330 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Computer Hardware Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Computer Hardware Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Computer Hardware Engineer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 9.1% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 4,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Computer Hardware Engineer do?
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computers and related equipment, such as processors, circuit boards, and memory devices. A core O*NET task: update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Computer Hardware Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Computer Hardware Engineers are California ($185,180), Washington ($169,120), Massachusetts ($167,600) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, New Mexico moves to the top at $179,315.
What personality type suits a Computer Hardware Engineer?
O*NET scores Computer Hardware Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.