How much does a computer engineer make a day?

 how much do computer engineers make

Computer engineers design computers and the programs that allow them to function. Computer hardware engineers build the physical machines that store data and run programs, and software engineers — sometimes called software developers -- design the programs themselves. Whether they want to focus on hardware or software design, computer engineers need at least a bachelor's degree.

Hardware Engineers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer hardware engineers brought home an average of $57.07 an hour in 2016, and earned an average salary of $118,700 per year. Hardware engineers employed by professional, business, political and other organizations earned more than those in any other industry, an average of $100 or more per hour. Average hourly pay by state ranged from a low of $33.81 in Arkansas to a high of $65.69 in California.

Systems Software Engineers

Systems software engineers design the operating systems and interface systems that allow computers to properly function. As of 2016, the BLS reports that systems software engineers earned an average hourly wage of $53.17 and an average annual salary of $110,590. Half of all systems software engineers working in the United States earned between $40.03 and $64.41 per hour, with the highest-paid 10 percent earning $78.47 or more per hour. Geographically, average hourly earnings ranged from a low of $31.43 in North Dakota to a high of $61.92 in California.

Software Applications Developers

Applications developers are software engineers who design games and other programs. According to the BLS, they tended to earn slightly less than hardware and systems software engineers: an average of $50.14 an hour and $104,300 a year as of 2016. The highest average pay by industry was reported by audio and video equipment manufacturing, which paid software applications developers an average of $60.86 an hour. Wyoming reported the lowest average wage by state for this occupation, $33.04 an hour, while Washington reported the highest, $62.23.