Checked
Computer Network Architects Salary
Computer Network Architects earn a median $134,050 a year in the U.S., with 179,740 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $134,050 a year
- Employment
- 179,740
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +7.7%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 9,600
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $134,050 · $64.45 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $139,580 · $67.11 an hour (estimate error ±0.6%)
- 10th percentile
- $79,900 · $38.42 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $104,620 · $50.30 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $168,200 · $80.86 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $202,680 · $97.44 an hour
- Employment
- 179,740 (estimate error ±1.7%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
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. Excludes “Information Security Analysts” (15-1212), “Computer Network Support Specialists” (15-1231), and “Network and Computer Systems Administrators” (15-1244).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 181,800
- Projected for 2035
- 195,800
- Change
- +14,100 (+7.7%)
- Openings each year
- 9,600
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 0.4%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $168,070 | 4,730 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $162,350 | 5,660 |
| 3 | Maryland | $159,460 | 5,860 |
| 4 | California | $158,870 | 14,870 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $155,060 | 6,270 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $153,390 | 420 |
| 7 | Delaware | $148,390 | 760 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $143,890 | 1,570 |
| 9 | Virginia | $141,340 | 9,380 |
| 10 | New York | $140,390 | 9,800 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 16,380 | $139,230 |
| California | 14,870 | $158,870 |
| Texas | 13,650 | $133,310 |
| New York | 9,800 | $140,390 |
| Virginia | 9,380 | $141,340 |
| Florida | 9,370 | $132,800 |
| North Carolina | 8,350 | $127,320 |
| Illinois | 7,810 | $132,790 |
| Georgia | 7,690 | $133,890 |
| Massachusetts | 6,270 | $155,060 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $186,110 | 2,730 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $172,650 | 3,710 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $166,760 | 3,350 |
| 4 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $165,570 | 220 |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $163,010 | 10,230 |
| 6 | Bloomington, IL | $161,780 | 240 |
| 7 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $161,170 | 390 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $160,650 | 5,240 |
| 9 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $160,340 | 2,480 |
| 10 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $159,820 | 240 |
| 11 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $159,820 | 9,370 |
| 12 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $159,720 | 690 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 10,260 | $139,230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,230 | $163,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 9,370 | $159,820 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,900 | $137,900 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 5,880 | $133,890 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,400 | $143,800 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,240 | $160,650 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,710 | $172,650 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,500 | $147,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,350 | $166,760 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,330 | $131,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,070 | $138,850 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1,787 certified filingsMedian offered wage $144,765
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)369 certified filingsMedian offered wage $151,466
Computer Network Architects pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Database Administrators
- Database Architects
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Software Developers
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Web Developers
Frequently asked questions
- How much do computer network architects make?
- The median wage for computer network architects in the U.S. is $134,050 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,620 and $168,200.
- Which state pays computer network architects the most?
- Washington has the highest median wage for this occupation at $168,070 a year.
- What is the job outlook for computer network architects?
- BLS projects employment to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 9,600 openings each year on average.
- What education do computer network architects need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.