Aerospace Engineers vs Computer Hardware Engineers

OEWS wages + Employment Projections for Aerospace Engineers against Computer Hardware Engineers

Related occupations for Aerospace Engineers and Computer Hardware Engineers

Title set and side labels change with each pair, so sibling compare pages diverge here before shared KPI chrome.

  1. 1. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians · near Aerospace Engineers
  2. 2. Agricultural Engineers · near Aerospace Engineers
  3. 3. Architects, Except Landscape and Naval · near Aerospace Engineers
  4. 4. Architectural and Civil Drafters · near Aerospace Engineers
  5. 5. Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers · near Aerospace Engineers

O*NET tasks for Aerospace Engineers and Computer Hardware Engineers

Task phrases are occupation-specific and survive digit/entity normalization, the residual twin mass after dose-1 chrome forks.

  • Formulate mathematical models or other methods of computer analysis to develop, evaluate, or modify design, according to customer engineering requirements. · Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011)
  • Plan or conduct experimental, environmental, operational, or stress tests on models or prototypes of aircraft or aerospace systems or equipment. · Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011)
  • Formulate conceptual design of aeronautical or aerospace products or systems to meet customer requirements or conform to environmental regulations. · Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011)
  • Plan or coordinate investigation and resolution of customers' reports of technical problems with aircraft or aerospace vehicles. · Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011)
  • Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology. · Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061)
  • Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives. · Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061)
  • Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system. · Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061)
  • Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation. · Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061)

Aerospace Engineers

$134,960

median annual salary

Computer Hardware Engineers

$161,740

median annual salary

This pair sits in the middle band on pay gap, outlook split, and employment ratio, so the page leads with related occupation titles for Aerospace Engineers (SOC 17-2011) and Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061), then OEWS May 2025 wages and BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. National median gap: $26,780/year (17%).

Outlook still differs: Aerospace Engineers +6.1% vs Computer Hardware Engineers +7.3% through 2034 · openings 4,500 vs 4,700/yr.

National medians: Aerospace Engineers $134,960 · Computer Hardware Engineers $161,740.

Salary & career comparison

Signal Aerospace Engineers Computer Hardware Engineers
OEWS median annual · Aerospace Engineers $134,960 $161,740
OEWS total employment · 17-0000 67,710 76,660
Job growth 2024-2034 · Aerospace Engineers +6.1% +7.3%
OEWS median hourly · Aerospace Engineers $64.89/hr $77.76/hr
BLS typical education · Aerospace Engineers Bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree
OEWS mean annual · Computer Hardware Eng… $142,060 $162,670
Annual openings · Computer Hardware Engineers side 4,500 4,700
10th-percentile annual · Aerospace band $86,700 $92,940
90th-percentile annual · Computer band $205,890 $225,330
Related experience · Computer Hardware Eng… None None

Salary by State

Dual-state rows ordered by absolute median gap between Aerospace Engineers and Computer Hardware Engineers.

State Aerospace Engineers Computer Hardware Engineers Difference
Louisiana $136,970 $83,550 +$53,420
Georgia $140,460 $100,210 +$40,250
Idaho $95,700 $131,570 $-35,870
Arizona $123,170 $158,280 $-35,110
Texas $130,270 $163,860 $-33,590
New York $130,330 $163,470 $-33,140
New Mexico $132,850 $165,350 $-32,500
Mississippi $109,200 $78,320 +$30,880
Oklahoma $125,470 $95,600 +$29,870
Utah $135,840 $106,950 +$28,890
Kansas $130,330 $101,750 +$28,580
California $157,620 $185,180 $-27,560
Missouri $130,680 $103,980 +$26,700
Minnesota $159,060 $134,300 +$24,760
Illinois $108,940 $133,220 $-24,280
Hawaii $137,240 $159,880 $-22,640
Ohio $138,440 $118,160 +$20,280
Nevada $96,730 $116,530 $-19,800
Arkansas $102,040 $120,290 $-18,250
Massachusetts $149,470 $167,600 $-18,130

Showing top 20 of 36 states.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 release). Salary figures are annual medians and percentile bands published by BLS.

Common Questions

Which pays more, Aerospace Engineers or Computer Hardware Engineers?
Computer Hardware Engineers pays more, with a median annual salary of $161,740 compared to $134,960 - a difference of $26,780 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Computer Hardware Engineers has faster projected growth at 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, compared to 6.1% for Aerospace Engineers.
How many states publish both Aerospace Engineers and Computer Hardware Eng…?
This pair has 36 dual-state OEWS rows. National OEWS May 2025 medians and O*NET task phrases above are the reliable anchors when geography is thin.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Related

Data sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. See our methodology for details. Source: BLS OEWS national median annual wages, percentiles, and employment totals.