Job Outlook

Computer hardware engineers are expected to have favorable job opportunities. Employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010, reflecting rapid employment growth in the computer and office equipment industry, which employs the greatest number of computer engineers. Consulting opportunities for computer hardware engineers should grow as businesses need help managing, upgrading, and customizing increasingly complex systems. Growth in embedded systems, a technology that uses computers to control other devices such as appliances or cell phones, also will increase the demand for computer hardware engineers. In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, other vacancies will result from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions, transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force.