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Semiconductors & Chip Design
Intel, NVIDIA, AMD
Computer Hardware Engineers
Computer hardware engineers design and test the physical parts of computing systems, from processors and custom chips to circuit boards and peripherals. The work is distinct because it sits right at the boundary between hardware and software, so the job is as much about compatibility, testing, and troubleshooting as it is about design. The main tradeoff is that the pay is strong, but the work usually depends on lab access, careful testing, and production constraints like cost, security, and manufacturability.
Also known as Hardware Design EngineerHardware Development EngineerProduct Hardware EngineerDigital Hardware EngineerComputer Hardware Design Engineer
Median Salary
$155,020
Mean $156,770
U.S. Workforce
~76K
4.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+7.3%
76.8K to 82.4K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Computer Hardware Engineers sits in the Technology category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~76K workers, with a median annual pay of $155,020 and roughly 4.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 76.8 K in 2024 to 82.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's Degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Hardware Engineer Intern / Junior Hardware Engineer and can progress toward Principal / Staff Hardware Engineer. High-value skills usually include Hardware Prototyping & Test Fixtures, PCB Design & Altium Designer, and Verilog/VHDL & FPGA Prototyping, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, and Complex Problem Solving.
Core Responsibilities
- Build early versions of chips, boards, or devices and test them in simulation or in the lab.
- Work with software and systems engineers to make sure the hardware fits the rest of the product.
- Design the core parts of a computer system, such as processors, support chips, and peripheral devices.
- Choose a hardware setup that balances performance, cost, and security needs.
Keep exploring: more Technology careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Build early versions of chips, boards, or devices and test them in simulation or in the lab.
02 Work with software and systems engineers to make sure the hardware fits the rest of the product.
03 Design the core parts of a computer system, such as processors, support chips, and peripheral devices.
04 Choose a hardware setup that balances performance, cost, and security needs.
05 Watch equipment during testing, fix problems, and tweak the design so it meets the required specs.
06 Coordinate with technicians, suppliers, designers, sales teams, and users, and help train people who use or build the system.
Industries That Hire
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Computer & Consumer Electronics
Apple, Dell, HP
📡
Networking & Telecommunications
Cisco, Juniper Networks, Arista Networks
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Aerospace & Defense
Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman
☁️
Data Centers & Cloud Infrastructure
Amazon, Google, Microsoft
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Medical Devices & Instrumentation
Medtronic, Abbott, GE HealthCare
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong: the median salary is $155,020 and the mean is $156,770, which is high for a role that typically starts with a bachelor's degree.
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You can enter the field without prior work experience or on-the-job training, so the path is clear if you can handle the technical coursework.
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The job has steady demand, with about 4.7 thousand annual openings and projected growth of 7.3% through 2034.
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The work is varied: one week may be about prototypes and simulation, and the next may be about lab debugging or production issues.
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You get to work on real products that people use, from CPUs and custom chips to printers, drives, and other hardware.
Challenges
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Growth is positive but not explosive at 7.3%, so this is a steady field rather than a fast-expanding one.
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The field is relatively small, with about 75,710 workers now, so there are fewer openings than in larger software or IT job markets.
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Remote work is limited because the job often depends on labs, test equipment, and physical prototypes.
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A bachelor's degree is the usual entry point, but 34.48% of workers have a master's degree, which can make the competition feel more degree-heavy over time.
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The job is tied to hardware production cycles, cost targets, and security requirements, so projects can move slowly and be affected by supply-chain or chip-market shifts.
Career Progression
Hardware Engineer Intern / Junior Hardware Engineer
0-2 years
$85K-$124K
Supports testing, documentation, and basic design work while learning lab tools, product specs, and team workflows.
Computer Hardware Engineer
2-6 years
$125K-$169K
Owns part of the design and test cycle, works with cross-functional teams, and helps move prototypes toward production.
Senior Computer Hardware Engineer THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$170K-$225K
Leads difficult design problems, reviews other engineers' work, and makes key technical decisions on performance, cost, and reliability.
Principal / Staff Hardware Engineer
10+ years
$226K-$300K
Sets technical direction for major products, solves the hardest architecture issues, and often mentors teams across several projects.
Education Paths
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering
The most common entry point, held by 48.28% of workers in this role.
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
A major advantage in the field, held by 34.48% of workers in this role.
Doctoral Degree
A smaller but real route into advanced research and specialized design work, held by 6.9% of workers in this role.
Certificate or Bootcamp in Embedded Systems or PCB Design
Not the usual route, but it can help if you already have strong hands-on project experience and lab skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Hardware Prototyping & Test Fixtures 96%
PCB Design & Altium Designer 92%
Verilog/VHDL & FPGA Prototyping 90%
SPICE/LTspice Circuit Simulation 88%
Oscilloscopes, Logic Analyzers & Lab Debugging 86%
Signal Integrity, Power Integrity & Thermal Analysis 82%
System Integration & Hardware-Software Debugging 80%
DFM/DFT & Manufacturing Test 78%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSpeakingWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+7.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 76.8K to 82.4 K over the next decade, representing 7.3% growth. Around 4.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.