Computer Hardware Engineers build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and systems evaluation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Software Developers (79%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developers | 79% | $135,980 | −16% | None |
| 2 | Physicists | 72% | $172,250 | +6% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Database Architects | 72% | $139,500 | −14% | None |
| 4 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 72% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Computer Network Architects | 71% | $134,050 | −17% | None |
| 6 | Water Resource Specialists | 71% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Medical Dosimetrists | 70% | $147,470 | −9% | None |
| 8 | Data Warehousing Specialists | 70% | $139,500Pay for the broader BLS group “Database Architects” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Information Security Analysts | 69% | $129,180 | −20% | None |
| 10 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 69% | $140,300 | −13% | Graduate degree |
Compared with Computer Hardware Engineers, median $161,740. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as computer hardware engineers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
79% skill match · $135,980 · −16% pay
Programming · Technology Design · Negotiation
72% skill match · $172,250 · +6% pay
Programming · Instructing · Complex Problem Solving
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
72% skill match · $139,500 · −14% pay
Programming · Service Orientation · Technology Design
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Software Developers (79% skill match, median $135,980), Physicists (72% skill match, median $172,250) and Database Architects (72% skill match, median $139,500), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 2 pay more than computer hardware engineers at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+8%, $175,140) and Physicists (+6%, $172,250).
21 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 4 usually need a graduate degree: Physicists, Computer and Information Research Scientists and Biochemists and Biophysicists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.