There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a computer applications engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $46.33 an hour? That's $96,367 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 21% and produce 284,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What Does a Computer Applications Engineer Do

There are certain skills that many computer applications engineers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and detail oriented.

Learn more about what a Computer Applications Engineer does

How To Become a Computer Applications Engineer

If you're interested in becoming a computer applications engineer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 63.5% of computer applications engineers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 17.5% of computer applications engineers have master's degrees. Even though most computer applications engineers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become a Computer Applications Engineer
Top Computer Applications Engineer Jobs Near You

Computer Applications Engineer Career Paths

Average Salary for a Computer Applications Engineer

Computer Applications Engineers in America make an average salary of $96,367 per year or $46 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $129,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $71,000 per year.
Average Computer Applications Engineer Salary
$96,367 Yearly
$46.33 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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Roles and Types of Computer Applications Engineer

There are several types of computer applications engineer, including:

Software Engineer

Role:

Software Engineers get to apply lots of different areas of study into their everyday work. Whether it's science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, or even design, these engineers are able to use lots of different methods and techniques in their line of work.

Essentially, software engineers design, develop and test software applications for computers. They usually work in offices or labs during their average 40-hour workweek. Even though they use a wide range of study, typically software engineers only require a Bachelor's degree, although a Master's degree is appealing to most employers.
  • Average Salary: $100,260
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Engineer

Role:

Engineers design and develop new products in a variety of different industries. They might be mechanical or software engineers or create electric machinery, design chemical or geotechnical processes, or help to structure civil or management disciplines. Whatever the case may be, engineers are involved in creating the diverse technologies that facilitate the processes of our lives in different areas. Combining creative thinking with the principles of mathematics and science using a wide range of technical skills, engineers work on the design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of various products from machines, vehicles, buildings, and roads to software or social processes serving consumers, businesses, and societies.

Engineers are creative thinkers and brilliant problem solvers. They excel at mathematical, scientific, and mechanical analysis. They follow plans and blueprints with a strong focus, yet remain flexible and work well under pressure.

Engineers develop systems for solving various problems as members of a team. They know that a single component is worthless without their counterparts, so they have to be great communicators, as well, to be successful at their job.
  • Average Salary: $92,077
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Developer

Role:

No matter what industry you're in as a developer, you'll always be a developer. Let me explain. Most developers only refer to themselves professionally as developers. Which kind of seems like a no-brainer. Except that there are lots of different types of developers out there. So even if you're a software developer, you'll probably still only be known as a developer.

Most developers have very little experience. In fact, the majority have less than 5 years of experience. So you could become a developer in very little time. It's definitely a young person's game. While we're on the topic of experience, the majority of the knowledge surrounding the developer job title is self-taught.

That's right. The majority of developers teach themselves how to become a developer. Condensed education and only a little bit of experience, it doesn't get better than that. Except that it does. Developers are essential in most every industry, resulting in a lot of job opportunities. But which one will you be the happiest at? Research points to gaming developers.
  • Average Salary: $100,076
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

States With The Most Computer Applications Engineer Jobs

Mouse over a state to see the number of active computer applications engineer jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where computer applications engineers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary: Job Openings:

Number Of Computer Applications Engineer Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California8,664$115,439
2Texas3,589$89,179
3Virginia2,694$91,349
4New York2,561$95,799
5Florida2,165$83,791
6Massachusetts2,091$91,429
7Illinois1,964$81,000
8Washington1,887$106,461
9Maryland1,741$85,742
10Pennsylvania1,716$93,600
11North Carolina1,688$95,804
12Georgia1,543$93,960
13New Jersey1,460$84,052
14Ohio1,347$83,629
15Colorado1,291$83,744
16Oregon1,254$106,603
17Michigan1,205$86,444
18Indiana1,160$79,876
19Minnesota1,104$79,240
20Arizona1,045$106,136
21Utah693$95,718
22Missouri667$84,800
23Wisconsin657$87,182
24Connecticut620$93,096
25Alabama580$84,706
26Tennessee514$85,001
27Iowa480$77,051
28South Carolina426$97,541
29Kansas422$78,205
30Kentucky385$79,574
31Nebraska379$81,039
32New Hampshire364$91,386
33Arkansas343$81,810
34Nevada341$104,620
35Louisiana336$91,176
36Delaware330$92,812
37Rhode Island313$87,264
38New Mexico298$86,587
39Idaho286$99,472
40Oklahoma262$83,743
41Montana226$81,334
42Maine211$86,129
43Mississippi188$83,120
44Vermont170$82,896
45Hawaii163$76,351
46West Virginia153$77,456
47Alaska149$96,224
48North Dakota147$81,265
49South Dakota135$72,736
50Wyoming128$74,405

Computer Applications Engineer Education

Computer Applications Engineer Majors

12.5 %

Computer Applications Engineer Degrees

Bachelors

63.5 %

Masters

17.5 %

Associate

12.7 %

Top Colleges for Computer Applications Engineers

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Computer Science
Business
Electrical Engineering
Engineering

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Engineering

3. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Electrical Engineering
Computer Science
Industrial Technology

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Engineering
Electrical Engineering

5. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Electrical Engineering
Business
Engineering
Computer Science

6. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,912

Enrollment

14,245

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Industrial Technology
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Technology

8. University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,938

Enrollment

9,391

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Accounting
Industrial Technology
Computer Science

9. Ball State University

Muncie, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,896

Enrollment

15,529

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
General Education, Specific Areas
Accounting
Business
Computer Science

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Engineering

Top Skills For a Computer Applications Engineer

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 24.2% of computer applications engineers listed fanuc on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Computer Applications Engineer Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Computer Applications Engineer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Computer Applications Engineer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
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Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume
Computer Applications Engineer Resume

Computer Applications Engineer Demographics

Computer Applications Engineer Gender Distribution

Male
Male
82%
Female
Female
18%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among computer applications engineers, 18.1% of them are women, while 81.9% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among computer applications engineers is White, which makes up 56.8% of all computer applications engineers.

  • The most common foreign language among computer applications engineers is Persian at 25.0%.

Online Courses For Computer Applications Engineer That You May Like

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1. 3D CAD Application

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Do you want to obtain all the necessary skills of a 3D modeler? Do you want to know how an engineer develop a building model in details? The “3D CAD Application” course, the second course of the new specialization, is coming! After finishing this course: You will be able to know how to use the SketchUp’s advanced functions by creating 3D building models. You will be able to develop a building as an engineer. Let’s start the learning journey!...

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2. Applications in Engineering Mechanics

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This course applies principles learned in my course “Introduction to Engineering Mechanics” to analyze real world engineering structures. You will need to have mastered the engineering fundamentals from that class in order to be successful in this course offering. This course addresses the modeling and analysis of static equilibrium problems with an emphasis on real world engineering systems and problem solving. --------------------------- Recommended Background: You will need to have...

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3. BIM Application for Engineers

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In order to effectively reach the goal of learning, students will get familiar with the model-building process. The second module of the course will be on how to use Autodesk Revit to build BIM models. We will use an example case and guide students to build a 6-story BIM model from the CAD drawings step by step. Then, in the following three modules, we will introduce three essential BIM applications one by one in each module, namely clash detection, quantity takeoff, and 4D simulation. We will...

See More on Coursera
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Best States For a Computer Applications Engineer

Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a computer applications engineer. The best states for people in this position are California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. Computer applications engineers make the most in California with an average salary of $115,439. Whereas in Oregon and Washington, they would average $106,603 and $106,461, respectively. While computer applications engineers would only make an average of $106,136 in Arizona, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.

1. Oregon

Total Computer Applications Engineer Jobs: 1,254
Highest 10% Earn:
$146,000
Location Quotient:
1.62

2. California

Total Computer Applications Engineer Jobs: 8,664
Highest 10% Earn:
$159,000
Location Quotient:
1.59

3. Washington

Total Computer Applications Engineer Jobs: 1,887
Highest 10% Earn:
$146,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Full List Of Best States For Computer Applications Engineers

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Top Computer Applications Engineer Employers

Most Common Employers For Computer Applications Engineer

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1Oracle$111,688$53.7020
2Open Systems Technologies$111,377$53.5521
3Logitech$110,833$53.292
4Populus Group$109,890$52.832
5Ford Motor$107,095$51.496
6Merrill Lynch$106,613$51.264
7Hyundai Capital Services$100,497$48.325
8Virtify$96,944$46.612
9MathWorks$96,761$46.527
10Akebono Brake$95,294$45.812