Computer Hardware Engineers

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics · Engineering and Technology

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 17-2061.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$75k10th$127kMedian$179k90th

New workers start near $74,870; experienced workers reach $178,980. About 150 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change: +19.9%; Alamo region, 161 to 193 jobs · U.S. +7%
Openings a year: 13; in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 4,700
Employed in 2024: 161; in the Alamo region · U.S. 76,800

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

Browse all programs

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Reading Comprehension4.5
Critical Thinking4.1
Writing4.1
Complex Problem Solving4.1
Speaking4.0
Active Listening3.9
Active Learning4.1
Judgment and Decision Making3.9

What the work is

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.

Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

Some college7%
Bachelor's degree48%
Master's degree34%
Doctoral or professional10%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests