by our College Data Analytics TeamComputer Hardware Technology was the 1,357 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 31 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 6.5% reduction in computer hardware tech degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 33.
Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of computer hardware tech programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in computer hardware technology/technician is watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic computer hardware technology/technician program qualifications, to serve in some computer hardware tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Computer Hardware Tech degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in computer hardware technology/technician to the highest computer hardware tech degree, a . Computer Hardware Technology programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to computer hardware tech, with approximately 21.7% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for computer hardware tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 26.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 26.1% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 21.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 17.4% |
| Some College Courses | 8.7% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in computer hardware technology/technician have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the computer hardware tech career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your computer hardware tech degree? Computer Hardware Technology careers are expected to grow 5.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to computer hardware technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Technicians | 80,800 | 5.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for computer hardware tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for computer hardware technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers computer hardware tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technicians | $65,720 |
With over 9 different computer hardware tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased computer hardware tech school rankings to help you with this.
Computer Hardware Technology is one of 4 different types of Computer Engineering Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology | 1,818 |
| Computer Engineering Technology | 1,363 |
| Computer Software Technology | 250 |
| Other Computer Engineering Technologies | 133 |