Computer Hardware Engineers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2061 · O*NET 17-2061.00
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 fall under the Architecture and Engineering category in the U.S. occupational classification. Computer Hardware Engineers earn a median salary of $155,020 per year, ranking in the top 2% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +7.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about computer hardware engineers right now
Computer hardware engineering is a great target for a teen who likes building things, taking electronics apart, and asking how computers actually work under the hood. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $155,020 in May 2024, with the top 10 percent earning more than $223,820 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $85,430. BLS projects employment will grow about 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly 4,700 openings each year over the decade. The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field, often paired with internships at chip designers, device makers, or research labs. A graduate degree can help for advanced roles in chip architecture or research. The defining trend is the AI infrastructure build-out. Industry forecasts describe the semiconductor industry entering a multi-year giga cycle, with advanced chipmaking capacity projected to grow about 69 percent through 2028 to support AI workloads. The AI chip market alone was valued near $52.9 billion in 2024 and is forecast to expand at more than 30 percent annually through 2030. Hands-on activities that prepare students well include robotics teams, science fairs with electronics projects, Arduino or Raspberry Pi tinkering, math and physics competitions, and dual-enrollment courses in programming or circuits.
What do computer hardware engineers earn?
The median annual wage for computer hardware engineers is $155,020. That puts computer hardware engineers at #16 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $85,430 |
| 25th percentile | $115,500 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $155,020 |
| 75th percentile | $185,380 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,820 |
| Median hourly wage | $74.53/hr |
Is computer hardware engineers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for computer hardware engineers is +7.3%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 76K positions in 2024 to 82K in 2034, a net change of 6K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do computer hardware engineers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working computer hardware engineers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- 2.Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- 3.Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
- 4.Provide training and support to system designers and users.
- 5.Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
- 6.Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
- 7.Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- 8.Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Top skills for computer hardware engineers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become computer hardware engineer?
The standard path into computer hardware engineers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about computer hardware engineers
What is the median salary for computer hardware engineers?
The median annual salary for computer hardware engineers is $155,020 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is computer hardware engineers a growing career?
BLS projects +7.3% growth for computer hardware engineers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become computer hardware engineer?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to computer hardware engineers?
Related occupations within the Architecture and Engineering category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.