Electrical Engineers vs Computer Hardware Engineers salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for Electrical Engineers is $107,890, while the average annual salary for Computer Hardware Engineers is $136,230. This means that Computer Hardware Engineers earn a significantly higher salary than Electrical Engineers.

However, it's worth mentioning that wages can vary depending on factors like location, experience, and the specific setting in which the employee works. As an example, Electrical Engineers who work in California (with salary averaging $126,640) may earn more than those who work in Montana ($86,470). And Computer Hardware Engineers in California earn 124% more on average compared to those in Kentucky.

Electrical Engineers vs Computer Hardware Engineers overview

Electrical Engineers and Computer Hardware Engineers are fundamental to the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry. Many people are interested in understanding the differences between these occupations, as well as the average pay for each.

Electrical Engineer job description

Electrical Engineers research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

Electrical Engineer education and experience

Most Electrical Engineers (70%) have a Bachelor's Degree. But this field also includes some employees who have a Master's Degree (23%). In terms of experience, 37% of Electrical Engineer occupations require a 1 to 2 years of previous experience working in the field. A smaller portion of roles (19%) require a previous experience of more than 10 years.

Electrical Engineer average salary

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of Electrical Engineers employed by the United States in 2021 was 186,020, and they earned an average of $107,890 per year. The bottom 10 percent had a salary of $62,360 or less, and the top 10 percent had a salary of $162,930 or more. The average salary has an increase of 1.8% in comparison to the previous year.

Do Electrical Engineers make good money?

Electrical Engineers are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 85% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Moreover, they make 18% more than the mean salary of the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry ($91,150).

Electrical Engineers are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 85% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Computer Hardware Engineer job description

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.

Computer Hardware Engineer education and experience

Among Computer Hardware Engineers, about a half have obtained a Bachelor's Degree, 34% hold a Master's Degree, and 7% have a College Course Certificate. Regarding experience, 28% of Computer Hardware Engineer occupations require a 1 to 2 years of previous experience working in the field. A smaller portion of roles (24%) require a previous experience of 2 to 4 years.

Computer Hardware Engineer average salary

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the number of Computer Hardware Engineers employed in the United States was 73,750, and they earned an average of $136,230 per year. The bottom 10 percent had a salary of $77,100 or less, and the top 10 percent had a salary of $208,000 or more. The average salary has an increase of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

Do Computer Hardware Engineers make good money?

Computer Hardware Engineers are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 134% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Moreover, they make about a half more than the mean salary of the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry ($91,150).

Computer Hardware Engineers are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 134% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Computer Hardware Engineers job growth

In 2021, there have been 9,040 more Computer Hardware Engineer job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 14%. Job growth has averaged 7% over the past 3 years.

FAQ

Do Electrical Engineers or Computer Hardware Engineers make more?

The average earnings of Computer Hardware Engineers are about a quarter higher than those of Electrical Engineers. On average, Electrical Engineers make $107,890 per year, while Computer Hardware Engineers make $136,230.

How long does it take to become an Electrical Engineer vs Computer Hardware Engineer?

Both Electrical Engineer and Computer Hardware Engineer occupations typically require a Bachelor's Degree. Completing a Bachelor's Degree most often takes around 4 years of study.

Is it harder to become an Electrical Engineer vs Computer Hardware Engineer?

The level of difficulty of achieving either occupation is similar, as they both require the same level of education.