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Computer Hardware Technology

Types of Degrees Computer Hardware Technology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Computer Hardware Technology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	1
Master’s Degree	10

What Computer Hardware Technology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Computer Hardware Technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Computer Hardware Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Computer Hardware Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Physics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Computer Hardware Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Computer Hardware Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Computer Hardware Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.5 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.3 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Computer Hardware Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Data acquisition software	Analytical or scientific software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	Computer aided manufacturing CAM software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Computer Hardware Technology graduates include:

• Test Technician (Test Tech)
• Laser Specialist
• Optics Manufacturing Technician (Optics Manufacturing Tech)
• Optical Engineering Technician (Optical Engineering Tech)
• Thin Film Technician (Thin Film Tech)
• Optoelectronic Technician (Optoelectronic Tech)
• Fiber Optics Specialist
• Photonics Engineering Technician (Photonics Engineering Tech)
• Laser Operator
• Optical Manufacturing Technician (Optical Manufacturing Tech)
• Fiber Splicer
• Fiber Optics Assembler
• Strain Technician (Strain Tech)
• Photonics Engineer
• Optics Technician (Optics Tech)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Computer Hardware Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	47.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	25.4%
Bachelor’s degree	9.2%
Postsecondary certificate	6.9%
Some college courses	6.8%
Master’s degree	2.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Computer Hardware Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 83.3% of Computer Hardware Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	3	16.7%
Men	15	83.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Computer Hardware Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	15	83.3%
Asian	1	5.6%
Black or African American	2	11.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Computer Hardware Technology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Computer Hardware Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$33,769
4 years	$47,945
5 years	$55,101

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $55,101 — roughly 63% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Computer Hardware Technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Computer Hardware Technology graduates earn a median of $47,945 four years after completion — roughly 26% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.12
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other	15.1299
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician	15.1201
Computer Software Technology/Technician	15.1204
Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician	15.1202
Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.0001
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.0101
Audio Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0307
Biomedical Technology/Technician	15.0401
Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0615
Composite Materials Technology/Technician	15.0617
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians, Other	15.1799

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.