Compare A Mechanical Design Drafter ↔ B Computer Hardware Engineer

Compare with

Your route

2 moves · +$84,480 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Electrical Drafter: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Move 2, to Computer Hardware Engineer: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Computer Hardware Engineer hold one), license depends on the work (Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Mechanical Design Drafter to Electrical Drafter +$1,240 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Electrical and Electronics Drafters as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86.
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
- Skills to build: Judgment and Decision Making, Writing
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Electrical Drafter to Computer Hardware Engineer +$83,240 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Computer Hardware Engineers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Computer Hardware Engineer hold one), license depends on the work (Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work).

Side by side

All Computer Hardware Engineers: Texas median $163,860, $84,480 more a year than all Mechanical Drafters ($79,380), every experience level.

Computer Hardware Engineer: 76% work more than 40 hours a week, about 1.7 times the share for Mechanical Design Drafter (44%).

Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k

$79,380+$84,480$163,860

Gates on the route: Computer Hardware Engineer: bachelor's degree (O*NET: most in Computer Hardware Engineer hold one), license depends on the work (Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A -0.4% Texas, 300 openings a year

B +17.4% Texas, 230 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

44%+32 pts76%

Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first

1.5 / 5-0.11.3 / 5

Hazardous equipment-1.00Hazardous equipment: A 2.21, B 1.21
Bending or twisting-0.45Bending or twisting: A 1.77, B 1.32
Hazardous conditions+0.28Hazardous conditions: A 1.15, B 1.43
Very hot or cold-0.24Very hot or cold: A 1.54, B 1.3
High places-0.20High places: A 1.27, B 1.07

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 19% do).

B Most people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher (O*NET: 93%).

License

A No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).

B Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET: 30%).

B Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 28%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Operations Analysis
Mathematics
Coordination
Monitoring
Time Management
Instructing

To build: 6

Operations Monitoring +1.12
Writing +0.88
Speaking +0.76
Reading Comprehension +0.75
Active Listening +0.63
Complex Problem Solving +0.63

Make this your goal

Save Mechanical Design Drafter to Computer Hardware Engineer as your goal. Each step then shows the hours you have logged toward it, your exam practice and your license, with the one thing to do next and the 6 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.