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Careers›Roles›Computer Installation Engineer
Mid-Level

Computer Installation Engineer

Getting computer systems and networks set up and running right, on site, is your job, from racking hardware to configuration to the first successful boot. Where a plan on paper becomes a working system.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
I
C
E
A
S
Realistichands-on, practical
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Computer Installation Engineers
Consumer ServicesProfessional Services · 42%Manufacturing · 34%Technology & Information · 8%Government · 6%Wholesale & Distribution · 5%
Job markets for Computer Installation Engineers
Employment concentration · ~85 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Engineering
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Computer Installation Engineer

The work means installing and configuring hardware, software, and networks, then testing that everything works as intended. You often work on site, sometimes against tight cutover windows, with people waiting. A lot of the job is adapting to the real environment, since no two installs go exactly to plan, and the pressure is on when systems must go live.

What people underestimate is the unpredictability and the pressure: things go wrong on site, and you fix them with people watching. Travel can be part of it, technology keeps changing, and a botched install is felt immediately. Scope ranges from a small office to a large data center.

It fits someone methodical, calm under pressure, and good at troubleshooting. If you want pure design or a quiet desk, the on-site stress can wear. But if you like making systems actually work, and the satisfaction of a clean cutover, the role tends to be steadily satisfying, install after install.

What people in this role value
Working ConditionsHigh
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$117K+15%
Professional Services$103K+1%
Energy & Utilities$87K-14%
Financial Services$86K-16%
Wholesale & Distribution$74K-28%
Compared to Engineering average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Computer Installation Engineers (SOC 17-2061.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Engineering →
Computer Installation EngineerProject EngineerSystems Integration EngineerDesign EngineerField Service EngineerAnalog Design EngineerComputer TesterHardware EngineerHardware Test EngineerComputer Vision EngineerHardware Design EngineerDigital Hardware EngineerHardware Systems EngineerComputer Hardware DesignerComputer Hardware EngineerEmbedded Hardware EngineerComputer Hardware DeveloperFPGA Engineer (Field Programmable Gate Array Engineer)FPGA Design Engineer (Field Programmable Gate Design Engineer)Analog IC Design Engineer (Analog Integrated Circuit Design Engineer)
Exploring the Computer Installation Engineer career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$85K–$224K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
76K
U.S. Employment
+7.3%
10yr Growth
5K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingSystems EvaluationSystems Analysis
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
17-2061.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midProject Engineer$110KseniorSenior Project Engineer$110KmidSystems Integration Engineer$130KmidDesign Engineer$116KseniorSenior Design Engineer$116KseniorSenior Computer Engineer$144K
View all Engineering roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.