How Much Do Computer Engineers Make?

Jobs & Education

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Computer engineers create rapid advancements in technology by solving complex problems in computer hardware.

Computer engineers are typically responsible for designing new computer equipment, creating blueprints, testing the completed models, analyzing test results, updating existing computer hardware, and supervising the manufacture of the hardware they designed.

Computer engineers solely ensure that all components of computer hardware function properly together with all of the latest software.

Salary
How much does a computer engineer make? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics records for May 2012, the average computer engineer salary is $103,980 per annum, which is equivalent to a mean hourly wage of $49.99. The bottom ten percent earns an average $63,970, while the top ten percent makes significantly more with an annual salary of $150,130.

Computer engineers that are employed within computer systems design services make $104,120, but those working in scientific research and development services earn significantly less than average at $99,290. The top-paying industry for computer engineers is within software publishing, where they bring home an impressive annual mean salary of $115,920. Computer engineers are paid the most in Michigan at $116,380, but California comes in at a close second at $114,560.

State	Hourly Wage	Average Salary	Number of Jobs
Alabama	$47.85	$99,530	1,280
Alaska	$39.96	$83,120	50
Arizona	$45.33	$94,290	2,720
Arkansas	$40.04	$83,290	110
California	$55.08	$114,560	22,360
Colorado	$51.74	$107,620	3,100
Connecticut	$43.52	$90,520	480
Delaware	–	–	–
Florida	$46.62	$96,960	1,860
Georgia	$42.15	$87,660	1,200
Hawaii	$43.82	$91,150	270
Idaho	$35.77	$74,400	–
Illinois	$41.99	$87,350	2,030
Indiana	$40.87	$85,010	190
Iowa	$50.66	$105,380	400
Kansas	$36.64	$76,210	120
Kentucky	$40.24	$83,700	620
Louisiana	$38.61	$80,310	170
Maine	–	–	–
Maryland	$50.60	$105,250	4,650
Massachusetts	$53.43	$111,140	3,680
Michigan	$55.95	$116,380	1,120
Minnesota	$48.51	$100,900	1,500
Mississippi	$46.88	$97,510	230
Missouri	$39.00	$81,110	130
Montana	$45.05	$93,700	–
Nebraska	$39.47	$82,090	120
Nevada	$45.85	$95,370	110
New Hampshire	$44.82	$93,230	180
New Jersey	$50.50	$105,050	1,030
New Mexico	$47.47	$98,740	880
New York	$49.88	$103,760	2,920
North Carolina	$51.89	$107,940	1,530
North Dakota	–	–	–
Ohio	$41.00	$85,270	700
Oklahoma	$36.00	$74,870	210
Oregon	–	–	–
Pennsylvania	$39.18	$81,500	2,270
Rhode Island	$48.27	$100,390	300
South Carolina	$44.00	$91,520	220
South Dakota	$38.38	$79,820	40
Tennessee	$39.69	$82,550	450
Texas	$47.22	$98,210	9,040
Utah	$38.33	$79,730	1,450
Vermont	$46.32	$96,340	–
Virginia	$51.45	$107,010	1,890
Washington	$51.86	$107,860	1,700
West Virginia	$41.35	$86,010	140
Wisconsin	–	–	–
Wyoming	–	–	–
Data courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Work Environment
Most computer engineers work in research laboratories to build and test a variety of different computer models. Others are employed in high-tech manufacturing firms, computer system design firms, research and development, and for the federal government. Interestingly enough, more than 95 percent of all computer engineers are employed within a large metropolitan area in the United States, where there are 79,580 jobs for these specialized engineers. Although the majority works full-time, over 25 percent work more than the normal 40-hour week on their research at irregular hours.

Employment for computer engineers is expected to grow slower than average at just 9 percent between 2010 and 2020. Foreign competition will continue to negatively impact the growth of this profession, although there will be a limited number needed to fulfill the demand for new innovative technology. Most job growth is expected to occur within computer consulting firms, where they can work with more closely with software developers.