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Computer Engineering Technology

Types of Degrees Computer Engineering Technology Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Computer Engineering Technology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	5
Associate’s Degree	478
Bachelor’s Degree	420
Master’s Degree	312

What Computer Engineering Technology Majors Need to Know

Programs in Computer Engineering Technology build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Computer Engineering Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

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

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

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

Skills

The skill set developed in a Computer Engineering Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

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

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
Operating system software	Operating system software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Computer Engineering Technology graduates include:

• Test Technician (Test Tech)
• Laser Specialist
• Engineering Assistant
• Technician
• Test Technician
• Photonics Engineering Technician (Photonics Engineering Tech)
• Removal Technician (Removal Tech)
• Fiber Optics Design Technician (Fiber Optics Design Tech)
• Thin Film Technician (Thin Film Tech)
• Optomechanical Technician (Optomechanical Tech)
• Ruling Technician (Ruling Tech)
• Laser Assembly Technician (Laser Assembly Tech)
• Photonics Engineering Technologist
• Photonics Engineer
• Mobile Technician (Mobile Tech)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Computer Engineering 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	33.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	25.7%
Bachelor’s degree	22.3%
Postsecondary certificate	7.5%
Some college courses	7.4%
Master’s degree	2.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.5%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Computer Engineering Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 86.4% of Computer Engineering Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	165	13.6%
Men	1,050	86.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	558	45.9%
Asian	117	9.6%
Hispanic or Latino	238	19.6%
Black or African American	193	15.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	8	0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.2%
Two or More Races	22	1.8%
Race Unknown	36	3.0%
International Students	40	3.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Computer Engineering Technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Computer Engineering 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.}

Online Computer Engineering Technology Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Computer Engineering Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	4	3
Bachelor’s	1	9

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Computer Engineering Technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Computer Engineering 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	Annual Degrees Awarded
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	3,275
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	1,557
Biomedical Technology/Technician	1,460
Automation Engineer Technology/Technician	1,364
Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician	1,272
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other	492
Computer Software Technology/Technician	278
Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians	113
Composite Materials Technology/Technician	108
Audio Engineering Technology/Technician	76
Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician	63
Computer Hardware Technology/Technician	18

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.