Computer Engineering Major

Computer engineering technology is a major that typically falls into the Engineering Technologies category.

There are 191 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in computer engineering tech, 73 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 2 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 2 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Computer Engineering Tech Degree?

Computer engineering technology is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #168 in popularity. About 900 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017. This major attracts more men than women. About 90.2% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of computer engineering tech majors is as follows:

• Asian: 9.5%
• Black or African American: 12.1%
• Hispanic or Latino: 15.5%
• White: 46.7%
• Non-Resident Alien: 10.1%
• Other Races: 6.2%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in computer engineering tech. About 10.1% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending computer engineering tech majors to the U.S. are India, Saudi Arabia and China.

What Will You Learn as a Computer Engineering Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to computer engineering tech to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Computer Engineering Tech Majors

A major in computer engineering tech should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

Skills for Computer Engineering Tech Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to computer engineering tech:

Abilities for Computer Engineering Tech Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a computer engineering tech student include the following:

What Can You Do With a Computer Engineering Tech Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with computer engineering tech:

Careers Related to Computer Engineering

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Electrical Engineering Technicians	2%	$64,330
Manufacturing Production Technicians	5.2%	$63,200
Computer Programmers	-7.2%	$84,280
Software Developers, Applications	30.7%	$103,620
Software Developers, Systems Software	11.1%	$110,000
Electronics Engineering Technicians	2%	$64,330

Computer Engineering Major Salary

Computer engineering tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $66,000 to $108,000. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

Your salary will be largely dependent on the career path you follow and what area of the country (or world) you work. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Computer Engineering Major Jobs

Some careers associated with computer engineering tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for computer engineering tech careers below.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Computer Engineering

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	7.6%
Post-Secondary Certificate	13.6%
Some College Courses	6%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	16.9%
Bachelor's Degree	47.8%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	0.4%
Master's Degree	7.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	0%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.6%

Online Computer Engineering Programs

There are 73 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering technology, with 7 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Online learners benefit from being able to watch lectures remotely and complete coursework on their schedule, but they also take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to dropout.

Is a Computer Engineering Major Worth It?

The median salary for a computer engineering tech grad is $90,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 130% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,013,600 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Engineering Technology
• Architectural Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Electromechanical Engineering
• Environmental Control Technology
• Industrial Production Technology
• Quality Control Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mining & Petroleum Technology
• Construction Engineering
• Engineering-Related Technologies
• Computer Engineering
• Drafting & Design Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Engineering-Related Fields
• Nanotechnology
• Other Engineering Technology

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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