Computer Engineering Technology
What Computer Engineering Technology Graduates Do
You’ll work where hardware and software collide. One day you might be in a lab, using an oscilloscope to test a new circuit board; the next, you’re at a desk writing Python code for a mobile app or collaborating with a team through project tools like Jira. As a quality assurance analyst, you’ll be the one trying to break the software, designing test plans and running automated scripts to find bugs before users do. These software development and QA roles are seeing explosive demand.
Your career starts with hands-on tasks: fixing bugs, running tests, or assisting senior techs. As you gain experience, you’ll move from executing plans to designing them, leading projects and earning a salary to match. While AI is changing this field, it’s becoming a powerful assistant, not a replacement. AI can generate code snippets, but you’re the one who architects the system and solves the core problem. It can run thousands of tests, but you still need to design them and troubleshoot the complex, hands-on hardware issues that automated tools can’t fix.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 20 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Computer Engineering Technology. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Additive 3D Printing Technician
RAPIDS 2078HY |
2000-4000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Calibration Laboratory Technician
RAPIDS 895 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Electrical Instrument Repairer
RAPIDS 157 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Electrical Technician
RAPIDS 155 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Electronics Technician
RAPIDS 169 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2031HY |
2736-3000 hrs | Hybrid | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Industrial Manufacturing Technician (Alternate Title: Manafacturing Production Techician)
RAPIDS 2031CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Instrument Mech, Weapons System
RAPIDS 996 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Mechanic (Any Ind)
RAPIDS 644 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Repairer (Any Ind)
RAPIDS 775 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrument Technician (Utilities)
RAPIDS 252 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrumentation & Controls Technician (Existing Title: Instrument Technician (Utilities))
RAPIDS 0252HY |
6000-8000 hrs | Hybrid | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Instrumentation Technician
RAPIDS 255 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
It Lab Technician
RAPIDS 0169CB |
Competency | Competency | $61K – $77,180 – $95K | 0.6% |
|
Laboratory Asst, Metallurgical
RAPIDS 621 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Non-Destructive Tester
RAPIDS 1010CL |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Nondestructive Testing (Ndt) (Existing Title: Non-Destructive Tester) (Military Only)
RAPIDS 1010R |
5920 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Optics Manufacturing Technician
RAPIDS 2045CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
|
Welding Technician
RAPIDS 498 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $77,390 – $98K | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Best Schools for Computer Engineering Technology
Top 20 of 26 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.
| # | School | Score | EarningsEarn | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH |
78 70–81 |
$60,462/yr | 175.0x |
| 2 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH |
67 60–69 |
$56,504/yr | 51.3x |
| 3 | Arkansas State University-Beebe Beebe, AR |
62 55–64 |
$37,876/yr | 57.9x |
| 4 | Excelsior University Albany, NY |
61 53–64 |
$56,260/yr | — |
| 5 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN |
61 51–65 |
$41,158/yr | 48.6x |
| 6 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA |
55 47–58 |
$51,369/yr | 14.9x |
| 7 | California Institute of Arts & Technology San Diego, CA |
55 47–58 |
$48,778/yr | 14.8x |
| 8 | California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City National City, CA |
55 47–58 |
$48,778/yr | 14.8x |
| 9 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO |
54 45–57 |
$38,859/yr | 27.6x |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Technical College Oakdale, PA |
52 44–55 |
$43,851/yr | 13.2x |
| 11 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO |
52 44–55 |
$42,475/yr | 15.7x |
| 12 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Boston, MA |
47 39–49 |
$35,970/yr | 7.8x |
| 13 | Florida Career College-Miami Miami, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 14 | Florida Career College-Pembroke Pines Pembroke Pines, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 15 | Florida Career College-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 16 | Florida Career College-Hialeah Hialeah, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 17 | Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes Lauderdale Lakes, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 18 | Florida Career College-Tampa Tampa, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 19 | Florida Career College-Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
| 20 | Florida Career College-Boynton Beach Boynton Beach, FL |
44 36–47 |
$23,458/yr | — |
Highest Earning Computer Engineering Technology Programs
Schools where Computer Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Community College | $60,462/yr | 78 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | $56,504/yr | 67 |
| Excelsior University | $56,260/yr | 61 |
| ECPI University | $51,369/yr | 55 |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology | $48,778/yr | 55 |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City | $48,778/yr | 55 |
| Pittsburgh Technical College | $43,851/yr | 52 |
| Ranken Technical College | $42,475/yr | 52 |
| Anoka Technical College | $41,158/yr | 61 |
| Ranken Technical College | $38,859/yr | 54 |
Best ROI for Computer Engineering Technology
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Computer Engineering Technology.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinclair Community College | 175.0x | $60,462/yr | 78 |
| Arkansas State University-Beebe | 57.9x | $37,876/yr | 62 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | 51.3x | $56,504/yr | 67 |
| Anoka Technical College | 48.6x | $41,158/yr | 61 |
| Ranken Technical College | 27.6x | $38,859/yr | 54 |
| Lorain County Community College | 27.5x | $23,598/yr | 43 |
| Ranken Technical College | 15.7x | $42,475/yr | 52 |
| ECPI University | 14.9x | $51,369/yr | 55 |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology | 14.8x | $48,778/yr | 55 |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City | 14.8x | $48,778/yr | 55 |
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Considering a 4-Year Degree?
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