Also called: Quantum Hardware Engineer, Quantum Software Developer
Builds computers that use the strange rules of quantum physics.
Quantum engineers work with chips cooled colder than outer space, design control systems, or write algorithms for quantum machines at companies like IBM, Google, and startups.
New field; figures are estimates from job postings.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or computer science for most roles.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics.
Growing much faster than average. Rapidly growing but still small.
Low risk for 10 years. AI helps tune qubits and write code, but building and debugging cryogenic quantum hardware is frontier research with growing demand.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Computer Science, AP Chemistry.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.