Computer Network Architects
Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241) earn a median $134,050 a year ($64.45 an hour) in the United States, with 179,740 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What computer network architects do
Computer network architects design and build the data communications networks that organizations use, including local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, and extranets. They model and analyze networks, estimate the capacity that will be needed, plan the equipment and layout, and then oversee how the design is put in place. Architects also develop or recommend security measures such as firewalls, create disaster recovery plans, and work out solutions to network problems as they arise. They keep networks working by managing upgrades and changes. Titles include cloud architect, network engineer, and network designer. The occupation differs from network and computer systems administrators, who operate and maintain networks after they are built, from computer network support specialists, who troubleshoot, and from computer hardware engineers, who design the physical devices. Information security analysts concentrate on protection. Network performance is monitored and analyzed to detect problems and plan capacity, and architects coordinate the installation of new equipment and write network documentation.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Cloud Architect, Cloud Network Engineer, Computer Network Analyst, Computer Network Engineer, Computer Network Technologist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $38.42 | $50.30 | $64.45 | $80.86 | $97.44 | $67.11 | 179,740 |
| Annual | $79,900 | $104,620 | $134,050 | $168,200 | $202,680 | $139,580 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where computer network architects earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $45.00 | $60.80 | $80.81 | $96.61 | $108.13 | $79.29 | 4,730 | 1.33 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $93,610 | $126,470 | $168,070 | $200,940 | $224,910 | $164,930 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $48.91 | $62.07 | $78.05 | $89.28 | $102.71 | $76.60 | 5,660 | 1.32 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $101,730 | $129,110 | $162,350 | $185,710 | $213,630 | $159,330 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $47.55 | $59.95 | $76.66 | $84.73 | $102.47 | $75.03 | 5,860 | 2.12 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $98,900 | $124,700 | $159,460 | $176,240 | $213,140 | $156,070 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $46.67 | $61.35 | $76.38 | $94.76 | $108.14 | $77.57 | 14,870 | 0.82 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $97,070 | $127,610 | $158,870 | $197,100 | $224,930 | $161,350 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $47.47 | $57.70 | $74.55 | $83.08 | $101.72 | $72.97 | 6,270 | 1.72 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $98,730 | $120,020 | $155,060 | $172,800 | $211,580 | $151,770 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $45.63 | $59.44 | $66.94 | $81.19 | $99.33 | $70.27 | 16,380 | 5.70 | 4.93 |
| Annual | $94,920 | $123,640 | $139,230 | $168,880 | $206,600 | $146,160 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $46.67 | $61.35 | $76.38 | $94.76 | $108.14 | $77.57 | 14,870 | 0.82 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $97,070 | $127,610 | $158,870 | $197,100 | $224,930 | $161,350 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $33.71 | $48.27 | $64.09 | $79.91 | $92.21 | $64.82 | 13,650 | 0.97 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $70,110 | $100,390 | $133,310 | $166,220 | $191,800 | $134,820 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $40.03 | $52.04 | $67.49 | $83.28 | $103.17 | $71.01 | 9,800 | 1.01 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $83,260 | $108,230 | $140,390 | $173,220 | $214,590 | $147,700 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $40.89 | $52.77 | $67.95 | $83.90 | $101.05 | $70.99 | 9,380 | 2.28 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $85,050 | $109,760 | $141,340 | $174,510 | $210,180 | $147,660 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $62.18 | $78.18 | $89.47 | $107.08 | $131.97 | $92.62 | 2,730 | 2.40 | 2.08 |
| Annual | $129,340 | $162,610 | $186,110 | $222,730 | $274,500 | $192,650 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $45.14 | $64.18 | $83.01 | $100.39 | $117.11 | $82.65 | 3,710 | 1.78 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $93,880 | $133,500 | $172,650 | $208,820 | $243,590 | $171,920 | ||||
| Rochester, MN | Hourly | $59.85 | $75.81 | $81.21 | $81.21 | $103.17 | $78.57 | 90 | 0.76 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $124,480 | $157,690 | $168,910 | $168,910 | $214,590 | $163,430 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $50.74 | $60.33 | $81.12 | $89.81 | $114.40 | $76.88 | 40 | 0.40 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $105,540 | $125,480 | $168,720 | $186,810 | $237,960 | $159,900 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $58.25 | $61.87 | $80.18 | $101.80 | $116.42 | $83.10 | 3,350 | 1.41 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $121,160 | $128,690 | $166,760 | $211,740 | $242,150 | $172,850 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $45.55 | $59.71 | $66.94 | $81.02 | $99.17 | $70.36 | 10,260 | 6.37 | 5.51 |
| Annual | $94,740 | $124,200 | $139,230 | $168,520 | $206,270 | $146,350 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $48.67 | $61.83 | $78.37 | $91.89 | $104.27 | $77.59 | 10,230 | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $101,240 | $128,610 | $163,010 | $191,120 | $216,880 | $161,380 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $49.09 | $61.08 | $76.84 | $85.78 | $104.11 | $75.68 | 9,370 | 2.99 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $102,110 | $127,050 | $159,820 | $178,420 | $216,560 | $157,420 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $36.63 | $50.97 | $66.30 | $80.61 | $89.60 | $66.16 | 5,900 | 1.46 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $76,190 | $106,020 | $137,900 | $167,670 | $186,370 | $137,600 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $24.86 | $45.32 | $64.37 | $80.89 | $89.49 | $62.44 | 5,880 | 2.04 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $51,710 | $94,270 | $133,890 | $168,250 | $186,150 | $129,880 | ||||
Top industries employing computer network architects
Computer Systems Design and Related Services employ 25.5% of computer network architects nationally (45,750 jobs) at a median $133,610 a year ($64.24 an hour), followed by Management of Companies and Enterprises (9.4%) and Telecommunications (9.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 45,750 | 25.5% | $133,610 | $64.24 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 16,910 | 9.4% | $139,820 | $67.22 |
| Telecommunications NAICS 517000 | 16,130 | 9.0% | $111,690 | $53.70 |
| Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services NAICS 518200 | 7,960 | 4.4% | $142,030 | $68.29 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 7,190 | 4.0% | $129,880 | $62.44 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (179,740). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $120,520 for computer network architects in May 2021 and $134,050 in May 2025, with employment of 168,830 and 179,740.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $120,520 | $57.94 | 168,830 |
| May 2022 | $126,900 | $61.01 | 173,920 |
| May 2023 | $129,840 | $62.42 | 174,100 |
| May 2024 | $130,390 | $62.69 | 177,010 |
| May 2025 | $134,050 | $64.45 | 179,740 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $80.81 | $168,070 | $93,610 | $224,910 | 4,730 | 1.33 | 1.15 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $78.05 | $162,350 | $101,730 | $213,630 | 5,660 | 1.32 | 1.14 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $76.66 | $159,460 | $98,900 | $213,140 | 5,860 | 2.12 | 1.83 |
| 4 | California profile | $76.38 | $158,870 | $97,070 | $224,930 | 14,870 | 0.82 | 0.71 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $74.55 | $155,060 | $98,730 | $211,580 | 6,270 | 1.72 | 1.49 |
| 6 | South Dakota profile | $73.75 | $153,390 | $96,670 | $199,420 | 420 | 0.92 | 0.80 |
| 7 | Delaware profile | $71.34 | $148,390 | $85,270 | $199,690 | 760 | 1.58 | 1.36 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $69.18 | $143,890 | $98,180 | $197,040 | 1,570 | 0.93 | 0.80 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $67.95 | $141,340 | $85,050 | $210,180 | 9,380 | 2.28 | 1.97 |
| 10 | New York profile | $67.49 | $140,390 | $83,260 | $214,590 | 9,800 | 1.01 | 0.88 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $66.94 | $139,230 | $94,920 | $206,600 | 16,380 | 5.70 | 4.93 |
| 12 | Nevada profile | $66.38 | $138,060 | $83,830 | $164,880 | 1,010 | 0.65 | 0.56 |
| 13 | District of Columbia profile | $66.19 | $137,670 | $102,450 | $205,420 | 1,490 | 2.13 | 1.84 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $65.22 | $135,660 | $90,360 | $173,880 | 1,540 | 0.78 | 0.68 |
| 15 | South Carolina profile | $64.90 | $134,990 | $82,060 | $185,160 | 1,950 | 0.85 | 0.73 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $64.37 | $133,890 | $51,710 | $179,040 | 7,690 | 1.57 | 1.36 |
| 17 | Texas profile | $64.09 | $133,310 | $70,110 | $191,800 | 13,650 | 0.97 | 0.84 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | $64.07 | $133,270 | $81,500 | $171,700 | 2,040 | 0.69 | 0.60 |
| 19 | Florida profile | $63.85 | $132,800 | $81,500 | $184,680 | 9,370 | 0.94 | 0.82 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $63.84 | $132,790 | $81,630 | $201,190 | 7,810 | 1.28 | 1.11 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $63.39 | $131,840 | $79,240 | $188,120 | 6,080 | 1.00 | 0.87 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $63.33 | $131,720 | $87,280 | $172,690 | 2,170 | 0.74 | 0.64 |
| 23 | Rhode Island profile | $63.14 | $131,320 | $58,760 | $175,800 | 460 | 0.92 | 0.80 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $63.01 | $131,070 | $84,340 | $180,640 | 5,150 | 0.93 | 0.80 |
| 25 | Arizona profile | $62.93 | $130,890 | $81,530 | $175,820 | 3,990 | 1.23 | 1.07 |
| 26 | Alabama profile | $62.89 | $130,810 | $76,960 | $173,400 | 4,200 | 1.99 | 1.72 |
| 27 | North Carolina profile | $61.21 | $127,320 | $79,120 | $173,410 | 8,350 | 1.69 | 1.46 |
| 28 | New Hampshire profile | $60.30 | $125,420 | $76,080 | $209,530 | 560 | 0.82 | 0.71 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $59.71 | $124,190 | $76,270 | $174,580 | 2,030 | 0.63 | 0.55 |
| 30 | Tennessee profile | $59.55 | $123,860 | $82,340 | $172,980 | 4,330 | 1.32 | 1.14 |
| 31 | West Virginia profile | $58.91 | $122,520 | $79,440 | $146,440 | 360 | 0.51 | 0.44 |
| 32 | Utah profile | $58.17 | $121,000 | $75,640 | $182,790 | 1,330 | 0.77 | 0.66 |
| 33 | Alaska profile | $57.56 | $119,720 | $88,690 | $173,070 | 120 | 0.37 | 0.32 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $55.97 | $116,420 | $77,570 | $163,200 | 1,350 | 1.32 | 1.14 |
| 35 | Michigan profile | $53.87 | $112,040 | $71,400 | $167,960 | 3,210 | 0.73 | 0.63 |
| 36 | Vermont profile | $53.33 | $110,930 | $84,970 | $155,420 | 130 | 0.42 | 0.37 |
| 37 | Arkansas profile | $53.08 | $110,400 | $80,930 | $166,780 | 910 | 0.70 | 0.60 |
| 38 | Oklahoma profile | $52.62 | $109,450 | $70,290 | $165,730 | 1,320 | 0.77 | 0.67 |
| 39 | New Mexico profile | $52.44 | $109,080 | $70,680 | $152,260 | 420 | 0.48 | 0.42 |
| 40 | North Dakota profile | $52.40 | $108,990 | $76,320 | $146,550 | 230 | 0.54 | 0.46 |
| 41 | Maine profile | $52.20 | $108,570 | $83,990 | $158,480 | 570 | 0.90 | 0.77 |
| 42 | Hawaii profile | $51.92 | $108,000 | $78,980 | $165,940 | 320 | 0.50 | 0.44 |
| 43 | Idaho profile | $51.74 | $107,620 | $70,720 | $174,510 | 720 | 0.84 | 0.72 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $51.26 | $106,620 | $78,930 | $162,340 | 470 | 0.24 | 0.21 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $50.14 | $104,300 | $73,970 | $162,590 | 250 | 0.49 | 0.42 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $49.87 | $103,740 | $62,850 | $168,350 | 1,710 | 0.86 | 0.74 |
| 47 | Missouri profile | $49.58 | $103,130 | $62,080 | $168,820 | 3,360 | 1.15 | 0.99 |
| 48 | Iowa profile | $49.54 | $103,050 | $62,850 | $160,320 | 1,170 | 0.75 | 0.65 |
| 49 | Kansas profile | $48.37 | $100,610 | $62,320 | $159,920 | 1,770 | 1.23 | 1.06 |
| 50 | Wyoming profile | $48.33 | $100,520 | $79,180 | $134,970 | 50 | 0.19 | 0.16 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $43.75 | $90,990 | $57,760 | $174,600 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (15-1240), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-1241 Computer Network Architects.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-1241, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-1241.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.