Computer Hardware Engineers
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
AI Impact Summary
Computer Hardware Engineers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 35/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 65% of all analyzed occupations. Of 18 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Computer Hardware Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Design Patterns in C# and .NET
by Pluralsight
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
18 tasks analyzed
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Build, test, and modify product prototypes using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.
Provide training and support to system designers and users.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology. | 35Estimated | 41.0% | 5% | |
| Build, test, and modify product prototypes using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 10% | |
| Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction. | 60.17Observed | 73.3% | 8% | |
| Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system. | 62.75Observed | 40.1% | 8% | |
| Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives. | 60.82Observed | 51.3% | 12% | |
| Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 6% | |
| Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process. | 63.9Observed | 40.6% | 5% | |
| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements. | 41.77Observed | 65.9% | 4% | |
| Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration. | 64.78Observed | 52.9% | 4% | |
| Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware. | 58.5Observed | 50.4% | 4% | |
| Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications. | 60.12Observed | 51.1% | 4% | |
| Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 3% | |
| Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 2% | |
| Provide training and support to system designers and users. | 66.67Observed | 41.7% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 29.1%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$155,020
per year
Mean Wage
$156,770
per year
Employment
76K
workers
Wage Range
$85,430 - $223,820
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsComputer Network Architects
32%Higher risk than 52% of other occupations
Computer Systems Analysts
33%Higher risk than 57% of other occupations
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
33%Median salary: $127,590
Higher risk than 58% of other occupations
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
34%Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Electrical Engineers
34%Median salary: $111,910
Higher risk than 63% of other occupations
Database Administrators
35%Higher risk than 65% of other occupations
Software Developers, Systems Software
35%Higher risk than 67% of other occupations
Software Developers, Applications
36%Higher risk than 67% of other occupations
Information Security Analysts
37%Higher risk than 70% of other occupations
Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
41%Higher risk than 83% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Computer Hardware Engineers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
Precision Engineering: Anno Robot's AI Coffee Robots Achieve 98% Consistency, Setting New Industry Benchmarks
The introduction of highly consistent automated coffee machines by Anno Robot poses a direct risk to the employment of human baristas in cafes.
Oracle layoffs could reach 45000 as AI replace database, engineering roles. Job loss flood
Oracle might terminate tens of thousands of technical staff members as automation begins handling backend infrastructure and coding tasks.