Computer network architects: pay, outlook and skills
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.
Pay distribution and location comparison
These are published pay distribution points for everyone working in this occupation, not pay levels for junior, mid, or senior roles. Location figures are pay as published; no cost-of-living adjustment is applied.
United States, all industries
| Pay point | United States | Selected area |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $79,900 | - |
| 25th percentile | $104,620 | - |
| Median | $134,050 | - |
| 75th percentile | $168,200 | - |
| 90th percentile | $202,680 | - |
| People employed | 179,740 | - |
Source: OEWS May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (imported 9/17/2026) official file Reference period: OEWS May 2025.
Long-term outlook
Official ten-year projection for 2025 to 2035. Projected annual openings are an average per year over the decade, including openings from workers leaving the occupation. They are not a count of jobs open today.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (imported 9/17/2026) official file Employment is published in thousands of jobs and converted here to people.
OptimizeResume analysis using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is not a BLS statistic or a prediction that an individual will be hired.
Score trend
Historical scores may be restated when BLS revises underlying data. The chart uses the latest restated values.
Confidence
- At least 90% of required inputs and occupation-industry mapping are covered.
How this score is built
Monthly industry demand is mapped to this occupation using official occupation-industry relationships, then combined with occupation fundamentals and long-term projections.
Read Methodology v1.0Skills, software, and day-to-day work
Skill values are O*NET importance ratings on a 1-5 scale for the occupation itself. They describe what the work requires, not how much employers are hiring right now.
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.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking4.1 / 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0 / 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9 / 5
- Programming3.9 / 5
- Systems Evaluation3.9 / 5
- Active Listening3.8 / 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8 / 5
- Systems Analysis3.8 / 5
- Writing3.6 / 5
- Coordination3.5 / 5
- Speaking3.5 / 5
- Active Learning3.3 / 5
O*NET importance rating, 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Software and technology
- Development environment softwareMicrosoft Azure software (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Microsoft PowerShell (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Apache Kafka (hot technology), Apache Maven (hot technology), C (hot technology), Eclipse IDE (hot technology)
- Operating system softwareLinux (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Apple macOS (hot technology), Bash (hot technology), Google Android (hot technology), Microsoft Windows (hot technology), Red Hat Enterprise Linux (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development softwareOracle Java (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Python (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), C# (hot technology), C++ (hot technology), jQuery (hot technology), Perl (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query softwareAmazon Web Services AWS software (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Structured query language SQL (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 (hot technology), Amazon Redshift (hot technology), Microsoft Access (hot technology), Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Configuration management softwareIBM Terraform (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Chef (hot technology), Puppet (hot technology), Application management software, Automated installation software, Logical partition LPAR software
- Switch or router softwareBorder Gateway Protocol BGP (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology), Cisco Systems Cisco Web Cache Communication Protocol WCCP, Cisco Systems Gateway Load Balancing Protocol GLBP, Cisco Systems Hot Standby Router Protocol HSRP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol EIGRP, Intermediate System to Intermediate System IS-IS
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment softwareFirewall software (in demand for this occupation), Content filter software, Network intrusion detection software
- Expert system softwareAnsible software (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet softwareMicrosoft Excel (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology)
- Office suite softwareMicrosoft Office software (in demand for this occupation) (hot technology)
- Network monitoring softwareAirMagnet Enterprise, Compaq Insight Manager, Dynatrace, Ethereal, Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold, Micro Focus OpenView
- Web platform development softwareAJAX (hot technology), Apache Tomcat (hot technology), Cascading style sheets CSS (hot technology), Django (hot technology), Google Angular (hot technology), Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
O*NET marks individual examples only. “Hot technology” means the tool is frequently named across job postings generally; “in demand for this occupation” means O*NET recorded it as required by employers for this occupation. Unmarked examples are still commonly used.
Typical tasks
- Develop disaster recovery plans.
- Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
- Develop and implement solutions for network problems.
- Maintain networks by performing activities such as file addition, deletion, or backup.
- Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.
- Coordinate installation of new equipment.
- Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning.
- Develop network-related documentation.
- Develop and write procedures for installation, use, or troubleshooting of communications hardware or software.
- Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing.
Also advertised as: Computer Network Technologist, Network Analyst, Network Consultant, Network Systems Consultant, Networking Systems Engineer, Solutions Architect, System Programmer, Systems Engineer.
Check your resume against a real job posting
This page describes the occupation in general. A free scan compares your own resume with the specific job description you are applying to, requirement by requirement, and shows where your real experience is already strong and where it is simply not documented yet. Only experience you actually have should ever be added.
Scan my resume freeSource: O*NET Database version 31.0 by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under CC BY 4.0. OptimizeResume has modified the data for display only: selected the most important rated skills, grouped software examples by category while keeping each example’s official flags, and shortened the task list.
Guides for applying to this work
Sources and how to read this page
Source: OEWS May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (imported 9/17/2026) official file
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (imported 9/17/2026) official file
O*NET 31.0 Database version 31.0 by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0 and modified for display on this page. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
How each number should be read
- Pay percentiles describe the spread of pay across everyone in the occupation, not experience levels.
- Employment counts are jobs, not people hired during the year.
- Projected annual openings are a decade average from the official projection, not current vacancies.
- O*NET skill ratings describe the work, not employer hiring demand.
- Values BLS did not publish, suppressed, or top-coded are shown as such and never treated as zero.