Imagine your day without a computer? Yes, that’s the kind of world we live in where everything is connected to computers. This has encouraged widespread adoption of digital platforms leading to a massive rise in the number of people using the internet. To be precise, there are more than 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide. The United States is one of the technology hubs of the world, housing big tech giants like Facebook, Amazon, Google, Apple, IBM, and more, leading to high computer engineering salary in the USA. So, if you are looking to become a software engineer or computer engineer to pursue a career in the IT industry, it is an excellent career choice. Not just the exposure to big tech companies, but the US also offers many other perks for computer engineering graduates. The average salary for software engineers in the US is $88,540 per year, and for computer engineers, it’s $81,647 per year. So, there is no denying that it is an excellent career with the average Computer Engineering Salary in the USA being lucrative. But now, the important question is, “how to become a computer engineer in the US?” Well, all the answers are here.
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Computer Engineering Salary in the USA: An Overview
Computer engineering involves both hardware and software knowledge. The hardware part of computer engineering includes the ability to design, develop and test computer systems after thorough research. Hardware engineers also need to have the ability to build, test and deploy different hardware components. These components can be processors, circuit boards, memory devices, network configurations, and even routers.
At the same time, the software part of computer engineering includes researching, designing, developing, and deploying software components that support the functionality of hardware parts. According to Glassdoor, some of the most in-demand technical skills for computer engineers in the US are,
- Data structure
- Programming languages
- Operating systems(Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS)
- Database management
- Integrated development environment (IDE)
- Software development lifecycle(SDLC)
- Computer programming fundamentals
- Problem-solving capabilities
How to Become a Computer Engineer in the US?
The first step towards higher computer engineering salary in the USA and excellent careers is to develop key technical skills. The US provides an excellent academic infrastructure and top universities for advanced diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s courses. From the famous MIT to Stanford University and CalTech, the US is home to some of the top universities enabling international students with enhanced knowledge of computer engineering. You can pursue computer engineering, computer science, BCA, and other computing courses with scholarship opportunities. Some of the top colleges in the US for computer engineering are:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)
- Stanford University
- Cornell University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Illinois
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Cornell University
- Princeton University
- University of Washington, Seattle
Apart from the graduate and master’s programs, you can also look to improve your knowledge through advanced certifications in computer science. Now that we know how to become a computer engineer, let’s understand the computer engineer’s role and demand in the US market.
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Computer Engineering Market in the US
The computer engineering market in the US is growing at a CAGR of 5% and is expected to reach 2.5 trillion USD in revenues by 2024. One of the major driving forces for the computer engineering market in the US is cloud computing and innovations in mobile applications. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are more than 4.1 million computing professionals in the United States. So, there is no denying the fact that the computer engineering market is flourishing in the US, but the question that will pop into your mind is-“how to set yourself apart from the crowd in the eyes of the market leaders?” The answer is simple, you need to keep up with the latest trends in the market and upgrade your skills. While a bachelor’s course can lay the foundation for knowing specific skills needs an understanding of what roles are offered in the market and their scope.
Computer Engineering Scope & Key Positions in the US
One of the key computer engineering markets in the US is that of hardware. It is growing at a rapid pace of 5.6%, with more than 73,600 computer hardware professionals already employed in the region. Some of the states that provide the highest computer engineering salary in the USA for hardware engineers are,
- California
- Maryland
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- Texas
- North Carolina
- Michigan
- Washington
- Minnesota
- Georgia
California is the tech hub of the world, with Silicon Valley located at its heart. The South San Francisco Bay Area is known for companies like Apple, Intel, HP, and Google. This is why California offers a 9% higher computer engineer salary than the national average, which is $88,649 per year. On the other hand, states like Florida offer $78,384 per year, which is similar to the average computer engineering salary in the US. However, not just the location but salaries also depend on the type of roles you choose. Here are some of the best computer engineering roles you can choose: Hardware engineer With the increased usage of computer devices across businesses, hardware engineers have seen massive demand. Not just the computers but networking devices, IT infrastructure, and increased needs for virtualization have led to higher hiring, and increase in computer engineering salary in the US. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of hardware engineers employed in 2020 was 66,200. Starting salary for hardware engineers in the US is $84,000 per year, which goes up to $111,832 per year. Software engineer Software engineers are one of the top paid engineering professionals in the world. The demand for software engineers is due to the higher usage of software products and applications, simplifying daily tasks for the world’s population. A software engineer works on the design, development, and deployment of software applications. Starting salary for software engineers in the US is $70,000 per year and goes up to $95,642 per year. Computer engineer Computer support specialists enable organizations’ computer software with high performance through constant monitoring and maintenance. From support information specialists to application support experts, computer engineers have a range of exciting offers in the market. The entry-level computer engineering salary in us is $72,000 per year, which can go up to $97,031 per year. Lastly, let’s look at some of the key benefits of pursuing a computer engineering career.
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Benefits of a Career in Computer Engineering
Higher pay The median salary for computer engineers in the US is $119,560 per year, with the top 10% of talents earning more than $176,900 per year. So, you can understand the kind of salary packages that you can achieve with a computer engineering career in the US. Job security Increased dependence on the internet and computer software for the completion of daily tasks for the world population means an evergreen demand for computer engineers. The IT industry has seen a surge in 20 years that no other domain has experienced, and that is why computer engineering professionals have higher job security. This is not just due to higher hiring in bigger organizations but demand for the more bankable skill set among computer engineering professionals. Better exposure With a computer engineering career in the US, you get enough exposure to build a profile that can attract organizations worldwide. Apart from this, you get to learn the various tricks of the trade from industry peers and experts who have contributed heavily to the industry. Innovating continuously The US is home to some of the best research and development organizations that are continuously innovating computer technologies. For example, MIT is known for innovations in every field and has one of the most advanced labs for different experiments. So, with a computer engineering career in the US, you can look to innovate in technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and more.
Conclusion
Finding a job after your computer science graduation or master’s is not that easy. However, with the right guidance, you can have the best computer engineering salary in us. You need to counter different sets of problems like English proficiency requirements, showcasing skills, acing interviews, and negotiating salary. Besides this, you also need to consider the growth opportunity while choosing a role or an organization. Fortunately for you, LeapScholar is here to guide you through your computer engineering career. So, book your consultations now.
FAQs
Which course can help me become a computer engineer?
There are several computer engineering courses like MS in computer science and others that help you become a qualified engineer. These courses generally cover topics such as computer architecture, programming, and internetworking. However, it’s important to research well and find a course that is tailored to your specific needs.
How much does a computer engineer make in the US per hour?
Computer engineers can earn anywhere between $34 and $52 per hour in the US. However, hours of engagement can purely depend on the type and scale of the project. It can also depend on the agreement terms between computer engineers and organizations.
What type of visa do I need to work in the US?
Non-immigrant visas are required for professionals and other employees who are coming to the US temporarily to work. You can find information on visas and work permits at the United States Department of State website. It is important to note that your employer needs to submit the petition for a work visa to the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services USCIS.
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