How to Become a Computer Hardware Engineer
Design the physical machinery of computing: processors, boards, memory systems, and the devices they power. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $161,740 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$161,740/yr
Middle half
$126,090 to $202,990
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
4,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Digital Design
- Circuit Analysis
- Hardware Testing
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
Helpful certifications
- FE (Fundamentals of Engineering)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
67/100
Work-life balance
50/100
Stress level
44/100
Related careers
- Petroleum Engineer$144,910 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
- Materials Engineer$112,860 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Hardware Engineer make?
The median pay for a Computer Hardware Engineer is $161,740 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $126,090 and $202,990 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Hardware Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science.
Is Computer Hardware Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 4,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Computer Hardware Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Digital Design, Circuit Analysis, Hardware Testing, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).