Occupations/17-2061.00
Computer Hardware Engineers
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.
Usually a four-year bachelor’s degree.
AI automation risk
71%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
40%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
54%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
- Task
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Task
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- 02Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- 03Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- 04Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
- 05Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- 06Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.11
- Degree of automation2.71
- Time sitting4.50
- Originality (ability)3.50
- Conflict situations2.55
- Hands-on objects/tools2.48
- Outdoors / weather1.37
- Disease exposure1.04
- Decision freedom4.24
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Information Ordering4.00
- Inductive Reasoning4.00
- Deductive Reasoning4.00
- Problem Sensitivity3.88
- Written Expression3.75
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension4.00
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.88
- Speaking3.88
- Mathematics3.25
- Science2.88
- Critical Thinking4.00
- Active Learning3.75
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 58 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | Electrical and Electronics Engineering 14.1001 | $13,800 | 9% | 92% | 1 yr $140,185 2 yr $128,868 Bachelor's · CIP 14.10 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $60,100 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr — 2 yr $137,605 Master's · CIP 14.09 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $12,600 | 48% | 84% | 1 yr $129,184 2 yr $120,252 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $15,200 | 24% | 87% | 1 yr $119,061 2 yr $97,071 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Electrical and Electronics Engineering 14.1001 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $97,907 2 yr $84,653 Bachelor's · CIP 14.10 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr $96,183 2 yr $90,602 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $14,800 | 11% | 93% | 1 yr $95,034 2 yr $93,964 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $65,200 | 14% | 89% | 1 yr $91,477 2 yr $82,440 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $87,420 2 yr $78,074 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $17,700 | 18% | 93% | 1 yr $86,696 2 yr $79,389 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $17,500 | 45% | 85% | 1 yr $85,585 2 yr $84,100 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public | Computer Engineering, General 14.0901 | $11,200 | 49% | 89% | 1 yr $83,768 2 yr $81,997 Bachelor's · CIP 14.09 |