Jobs Similar to Computer Hardware Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to computer hardware engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists, Electrical Engineers and Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers.
Computer Hardware Engineers: $161,740 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Computer Hardware Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radio Frequency Identification Device SpecialistsSame group | 83% | $130,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 81% | $120,630−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersSame group | 81% | $109,370−32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerSame group | 80% | $130,220−19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Photonics EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 78% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 8 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 78% | $104,110−36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 78% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 78% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 77% | $133,970−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 77% | $134,960−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Physicists | 77% | $172,250+6% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Robotics EngineersSame group | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $66,120−59% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 76% | $125,040−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 76% | $104,300−36% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 76% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 76% | $76,870−52% | Training or associate |
- 1Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
83% similar · $130,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Electrical Engineers
81% similar · $120,630 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
81% similar · $109,370 (−32%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Microsystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
80% similar · $130,220 (−19%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Photonics Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
78% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 8Mechanical Engineers
78% similar · $104,110 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Fuel Cell Engineers
78% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Automotive Engineers
78% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Nuclear Engineers
77% similar · $133,970 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Aerospace Engineers
77% similar · $134,960 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Mechatronics Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Physicists
77% similar · $172,250 (+6%) · Graduate degree
- 15Robotics Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $66,120 (−59%) · Training or associate
- 17Chemical Engineers
76% similar · $125,040 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
76% similar · $104,300 (−36%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Nanosystems Engineers
76% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Electrical and Electronics Drafters
76% similar · $76,870 (−52%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for computer hardware engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where computer hardware engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Computer Network Architects (83)
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers (83)
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects (80)
- Software Developers (80)
- Blockchain Engineers (79)
- Database Architects (78)
- Computer Programmers (77)
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (77)
- Data Warehousing Specialists (76)
- Information Security Analysts (76)
Questions about jobs like computer hardware engineers
What jobs are most similar to computer hardware engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (83% similar), Electrical Engineers (81% similar), Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (81% similar), Microsystems Engineers (80% similar) and Electronics Engineers (80% similar).
Which jobs like computer hardware engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +6%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with computer hardware engineers ($161,740).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.