O*NET-SOC 17-2061.00 / model V14 rated-task + local-market engine

Will AI replace
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.

Estimated AI task exposure

73%

High exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

18 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

77/100

Physical moat

38/100

Human moat

18/100

Rating coverage

100%

18 task statements / 18 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.

Importance 83/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 47/100Weight 0.80

Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.

Importance 78/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 47/100Weight 0.79

Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.

Importance 80/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 46/100Weight 0.78

Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.

Importance 77/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 42/100Weight 0.76

Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.

Importance 68/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 52/100Weight 0.74

Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.

Importance 75/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 31/100Weight 0.74

Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.

Importance 72/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 34/100Weight 0.73

Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.

Importance 66/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 42/100Weight 0.73

Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.

Importance 68/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 40/100Weight 0.72

Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.

Importance 67/100Relevance 100/100Frequency 30/100Weight 0.70

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$161,740

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

76,660

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+9.1%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

4

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

CHECK PAY WHERE YOU LIVE

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE