The amount you’ll earn with your computer engineering degree will depend on a couple of things. First and foremost: your level of education.
You’ll generally need a bachelor’s degree to get a job in computer engineering. We can help you out there: Visit our ranking for the Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering Degrees to get your school search started.
The next tier of jobs will require a master’s degree. If that’s where you’re looking to go, take a look at our ranking for the Best Online Master’s in Computer Engineering Degrees.
According to PayScale, the average person with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering will earn roughly $64,274 per year during their first one to four years in the field. A few more years of experience and you’ll see an expected pay bump of roughly $8,000 per year. Computer engineers with five to nine years of work experience earn an average of $72,815.
As you might expect, the expected salary jumps considerably with a master’s degree. Candidates holding a graduate degree in computer engineering earn, on average, $83,988 per year for the first one to four years in the industry. With five to ten years of experience, computer engineers with a master’s degree typically earn about $110,011 per year.
Salary depends on more factors than just education level and experience, though. Your area of specialization and the job title you hold will also make a significant difference. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows how much salary can vary for professionals in computer engineering and closely related fields.
Computer Hardware Engineers
Job responsibilities: Create schematics of computer equipment; test, analyze, and modify prototypes of hardware; oversee the manufacturing of finalized hardware designs
Average salary: $115,080 per year
Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 5 percent
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Job responsibilities: Develop construction, manufacturing, and installation standards for new electronic components; work with project managers to design new devices for commercial, scientific, military, medical, or other applications
Average salary: $96,270 per year
Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 7 percent
Aerospace Engineers
Job responsibilities: Evaluate the engineering principles, relevant environmental regulations, and client requirements for aerospace and aircraft products; develop criteria for design methods and quality standards; coordinate the design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft, satellites, and more
Average salary: $109,650 per year
Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 6 percent
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Job responsibilities: Oversee network and information security; evaluate network and system performance; install, upgrade, and maintain network software and hardware; interpret and analyze errors and outages to find appropriate solutions in a timely manner
Average salary: $79,700 per year
Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: 6 percent
Computer Programmers
Job responsibilities: Write code in programming languages such as Java, Python, Ruby, C++, and others; update, refine, and modify existing software; test programs for errors and correct problems in the code
Average salary: $79,840 per year
Expected job growth between 2016 and 2026: -8 percent (expected loss of 22,600 jobs in this industry)
Rankings
25 Best Online Master’s in Computer Engineering Degrees for 2017
25 Best Online Computer Engineering Degrees for 2017
FAQs
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