Computer Network Architects: salary, outlook & degrees
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
Middle half $104,620–$168,200. 179,740 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
60% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $91,651.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 9,600 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Computer And Information Systems | 15% | Computer and Information Sciences |
| Computer Science | 12% | Computer Science |
| Electrical Engineering | 11% | Electrical Engineering |
| Computer Engineering | 7% | Computer Engineering |
| Computer Administration Management And Security | 5% | Information Technology |
| Computer Networking And Telecommunications | 5% | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications |
| General Business | 3% | Business |
| Finance | 2% | Finance · Insurance |
| Management Information Systems And Statistics | 2% | Management Information Systems · Management Science / Analytics |
| Electrical Engineering Technology | 2% | Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technologies / Technicians |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Washington | $168,070 |
| New Jersey | $162,350 |
| Maryland | $159,460 |
| California | $158,870 |
| Massachusetts | $155,060 |
| South Dakota | $153,390 |
| Delaware | $148,390 |
| Connecticut | $143,890 |
| Virginia | $141,340 |
| New York | $140,390 |
| Colorado | $139,230 |
| Nevada | $138,060 |
| District of Columbia | $137,670 |
| Oregon | $135,660 |
| South Carolina | $134,990 |
| Georgia | $133,890 |
| Texas | $133,310 |
| Minnesota | $133,270 |
| Florida | $132,800 |
| Illinois | $132,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $131,840 |
| Wisconsin | $131,720 |
| Rhode Island | $131,320 |
| Ohio | $131,070 |
| Arizona | $130,890 |
| Alabama | $130,810 |
| North Carolina | $127,320 |
| New Hampshire | $125,420 |
| Indiana | $124,190 |
| Tennessee | $123,860 |
| West Virginia | $122,520 |
| Utah | $121,000 |
| Alaska | $119,720 |
| Nebraska | $116,420 |
| Michigan | $112,040 |
| Vermont | $110,930 |
| Arkansas | $110,400 |
| Oklahoma | $109,450 |
| New Mexico | $109,080 |
| North Dakota | $108,990 |
| Maine | $108,570 |
| Hawaii | $108,000 |
| Idaho | $107,620 |
| Louisiana | $106,620 |
| Montana | $104,300 |
| Kentucky | $103,740 |
| Missouri | $103,130 |
| Iowa | $103,050 |
| Kansas | $100,610 |
| Wyoming | $100,520 |
| Mississippi | $90,990 |
| PR | $78,200 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$133,650
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$156,560
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$130,750
- Jacksonville$136,100
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville$110,590
- Lakeland-Winter Haven$139,150
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers$130,150
- North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota$131,160
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$159,820
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$111,030
- Richmond$129,210
- Kingsport-Bristol$131,420
- Charlottesville$116,340
- Roanoke$123,600
- Lynchburg$108,940
- Winchester$132,500
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$147,510
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$166,760
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$186,110
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$157,700
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$141,350
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$128,110
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$137,350
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma$118,340
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
Knowledge used
- Computers and Electronics
- Engineering and Technology
- Telecommunications
- English Language
- Education and Training
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Cautiousness
People in this job tend to have Investigative (analytical), Conventional (organizing), Realistic (hands-on) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Computer Network Architects: questions
How much do computer Network Architects make?
Computer Network Architects earn a U.S. median $134,050 a year; the middle half earn $104,620 to $168,200 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $91,651 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is computer Network Architects a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,600 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a computer Network Architect?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. In O*NET's survey, 65% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is computer And Information Systems (15%).
How much do computer Network Architects make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $132,800 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $134,050 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 15-1241. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Computer Network Architects: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/computer-network-architects.