How to become a Computer Hardware Engineer

Official title: Computer Hardware Engineers

Also called: Design Engineer, Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Hardware Design Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Physical Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Staff Engineer, Systems Integration Engineer

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.

Main tasks

• Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
• Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
• Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
• Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
• 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.
• Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
• Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.

How to become one

Computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a related field.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Hardware Engineer.
• College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• College: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 34 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $161,740 a year The middle half earn $126,090 to $202,990.
• About 76,100 people work in this job now, and about 83,000 are projected by 2035. (+9.1%)
• People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Related jobs

• Transportation Engineers
• Water/Wastewater Engineers
• Environmental Engineers
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
• Aerospace Engineers
• Agricultural Engineers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Computer Hardware Engineer?

Computer hardware engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a related field.

How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $161,740 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $126,090 to $202,990.

Is a Computer Hardware Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 9% by 2035, from about 76,100 to about 83,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Computer Hardware Engineer?

Usually. 81% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Computer Hardware Engineer?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.