Computer Hardware Engineer vs Petroleum Engineers: $162K vs $145K Median Pay

Computer Hardware Engineer vs Petroleum Engineers: what changes?

Consider Computer Hardware Engineer if you want to research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. Consider Petroleum Engineers if you would rather devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Computer Hardware Engineer and Petroleum Engineers. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Computer Hardware Engineer

National median pay (2025): $161,740
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,100

Know before you choose

Review the full career brief for day-to-day working conditions.

See the full Computer Hardware Engineer brief

Petroleum Engineers

National median pay (2025): $144,910
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,000

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (18,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Petroleum Engineers brief

How the national numbers differ

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on projected growth

Computer Hardware Engineer is at 9.1% projected growth, compared with 2% projected growth for Petroleum Engineers.

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on annual openings

Computer Hardware Engineer is at 4,100 annual openings, compared with 1,000 annual openings for Petroleum Engineers.

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on median pay

Computer Hardware Engineer is at $161,740, compared with $144,910 for Petroleum Engineers.

69.8/ 100

Computer Hardware Engineer

48.2/ 100

Petroleum Engineers

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Computer Hardware Engineer vs Petroleum Engineers

Dimension	Computer Hardware Engineer	Petroleum Engineers
Median pay (2025)	$161,740	$144,910
Pay percentile	96 percentile	94.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	9.1%	2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	4,100	1,000
2025 employment	76,100	18,500
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Computer Hardware Engineer brief Read Petroleum Engineers brief

Computer Hardware Engineer vs Petroleum Engineers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Computer Hardware Engineer

Petroleum Engineers

How the national numbers differ

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on projected growth

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on annual openings

Computer Hardware Engineer has the edge on median pay

Computer Hardware Engineer vs Petroleum Engineers

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