Computer Network Architects
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks.
Computer Network Architects design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. The role reports a median annual salary of $130,390 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $76,640 and $189,520 and is projected to grow 12% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.54 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Design
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
A day in the life
You kick off the morning reviewing network traffic analytics and capacity-planning dashboards, looking for congestion patterns or growth trends that signal it is time to scale infrastructure. Your day involves designing topology diagrams in Visio or Lucidchart, evaluating vendor proposals for switches, routers, and firewalls, and working closely with security teams to ensure every design meets compliance requirements. You attend architecture review boards, present migration plans for moving legacy networks to SD-WAN or cloud-based solutions, and occasionally troubleshoot complex routing issues escalated by operations. The work is rewarding when a new network design goes live without a hitch, but high-stakes because a single misconfiguration can take an entire organization offline.
Frequently asked questions
What does Computer Network Architects do?
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks.
What does a typical day look like in Computer Network Architects?
You kick off the morning reviewing network traffic analytics and capacity-planning dashboards, looking for congestion patterns or growth trends that signal it is time to scale infrastructure. Your day involves designing topology diagrams in Visio or Lucidchart, evaluating vendor proposals for switches, routers, and firewalls, and working closely with security teams to ensure every design meets compliance requirements.
How much does Computer Network Architects earn?
The median annual salary for Computer Network Architects in the US is $130,390. The middle 80% of workers earn between $76,640 and $189,520 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $100,000 and $158,010.
What is the job outlook for Computer Network Architects?
The role is projected to grow 12% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 179,200 workers.
How do I become computer network architects?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Computer Network Architects need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Systems Analysis, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Computer Network Architects?
Our AI-durability model gives Computer Network Architects a score of 0.54 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Computer Network Architects has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.
Is Computer Network Architects right for you?
Take the Holland test + Big-5 to see how well this career matches your profile.
Get personalised fit →