Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer hardware and supervise its manufacture and installation. Hardware refers to computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers. (Computer software engineers—often simply called computer engineers—design and develop the software systems that control computers. These workers are covered elsewhere in the Handbook.) The work of computer hardware engineers is very similar to that of electronics engineers, but unlike electronics engineers, computer hardware engineers work with computers and computer-related equipment exclusively. (See the statement on electrical and electronics engineers elsewhere in the Handbook.) In addition to design and development, computer hardware engineers may supervise the manufacturing and installation of computers and computer-related equipment. The rapid advances in computer technology are largely a result of the research, development, and design efforts of computer hardware engineers. To keep up with technology change, these engineers must continually update their knowledge.
The number of computer hardware engineers is relatively small compared with the number of other computer-related workers who work with software or computer applications. Computer hardware engineers held about 60,000 jobs in 2000. About 25 percent were employed in computer and data processing services. About 1 out of 10 worked in computer and office equipment manufacturing, but many also are employed in communications industries and engineering consulting firms.
Computer hardware engineers are expected to have favorable job opportunities. Employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010, reflecting rapid employment growth in the computer and office equipment industry, which employs the greatest number of computer engineers. Consulting opportunities for computer hardware engineers should grow as businesses need help managing, upgrading, and customizing increasingly complex systems. Growth in embedded systems, a technology that uses computers to control other devices such as appliances or cell phones, also will increase the demand for computer hardware engineers. In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, other vacancies will result from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions, transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force.
Median annual earnings of computer hardware engineers were $67,300 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $52,960 and $86,280. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,360. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer hardware engineers in 2000 were:
| Computer and office equipment |
$75,730 |
| Computer and data processing services |
69,490 |
| Electronic components and accessories |
67,800 |
| Telephone communication |
59,160 |
Starting salaries for computer engineers with a bachelor's degree can be significantly higher than salaries of bachelor's degree graduates in many other fields. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers in 2001 for bachelor's degree candidates in computer engineering averaged $53,924 a year; master's degree candidates averaged $58,026; and Ph.D. candidates averaged $70,140.
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