Computer & Math
Computer Network Architects
SOC 15-1241
Design the data networks that connect an organization's offices and systems.
The job
Median pay
$134k
$105k to $168k typical range
Outlook, 2025 to 2035
Growing fast
+7.7% projected
Openings a year
10k
BLS projection
Typical education
Bachelor's
Our model
AI displacement risk
High
How much of this job AI may do instead of the person
Works with AI
8/100
AI alongside the person rather than instead of them
AI exposure
85th pct
More exposed than 85% of occupations · modeled estimate · 81st pct in Microsoft's data
Future-proof
57/100
Key skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Pay and jobs by state
BLS OEWS May 2025, 51 states. Sorted by jobs; per 1,000 is jobs per thousand workers in the state; vs national compares that rate with the country's. A tilde marks a figure estimated from the parent occupation group where BLS publishes none.
| State | Jobs | Per 1,000 | vs national | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 16,380 | 5.7 | 4.9× | $139k |
| California | 14,870 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $159k |
| Texas | 13,650 | 1.0 | 0.8× | $133k |
| New York | 9,800 | 1.0 | 0.9× | $140k |
| Virginia | 9,380 | 2.3 | 2.0× | $141k |
| Florida | 9,370 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $133k |
| North Carolina | 8,350 | 1.7 | 1.5× | $127k |
| Illinois | 7,810 | 1.3 | 1.1× | $133k |
| Georgia | 7,690 | 1.6 | 1.4× | $134k |
| Massachusetts | 6,270 | 1.7 | 1.5× | $155k |
All 51 states
| State | Jobs | Per 1,000 | vs national | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 6,080 | 1.0 | 0.9× | $132k |
| Maryland | 5,860 | 2.1 | 1.8× | $159k |
| New Jersey | 5,660 | 1.3 | 1.1× | $162k |
| Ohio | 5,150 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $131k |
| Washington | 4,730 | 1.3 | 1.1× | $168k |
| Tennessee | 4,330 | 1.3 | 1.1× | $124k |
| Alabama | 4,200 | 2.0 | 1.7× | $131k |
| Arizona | 3,990 | 1.2 | 1.1× | $131k |
| Missouri | 3,360 | 1.1 | 1.0× | $103k |
| Michigan | 3,210 | 0.7 | 0.6× | $112k |
| Wisconsin | 2,170 | 0.7 | 0.6× | $132k |
| Minnesota | 2,040 | 0.7 | 0.6× | $133k |
| Indiana | 2,030 | 0.6 | 0.6× | $124k |
| South Carolina | 1,950 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $135k |
| Kansas | 1,770 | 1.2 | 1.1× | $101k |
| Kentucky | 1,710 | 0.9 | 0.7× | $104k |
| Connecticut | 1,570 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $144k |
| Oregon | 1,540 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $136k |
| Washington DC | 1,490 | 2.1 | 1.8× | $138k |
| Nebraska | 1,350 | 1.3 | 1.1× | $116k |
| Utah | 1,330 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $121k |
| Oklahoma | 1,320 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $109k |
| Iowa | 1,170 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $103k |
| Nevada | 1,010 | 0.7 | 0.6× | $138k |
| Arkansas | 910 | 0.7 | 0.6× | $110k |
| Delaware | 760 | 1.6 | 1.4× | $148k |
| Idaho | 720 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $108k |
| Maine | 570 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $109k |
| New Hampshire | 560 | 0.8 | 0.7× | $125k |
| Mississippi | 544 | 0.5 | 0.4× | $91k~ |
| Louisiana | 470 | 0.2 | 0.2× | $107k |
| Rhode Island | 460 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $131k |
| New Mexico | 420 | 0.5 | 0.4× | $109k |
| South Dakota | 420 | 0.9 | 0.8× | $153k |
| West Virginia | 360 | 0.5 | 0.4× | $123k |
| Hawaii | 320 | 0.5 | 0.4× | $108k |
| Montana | 250 | 0.5 | 0.4× | $104k |
| North Dakota | 230 | 0.5 | 0.5× | $109k |
| Vermont | 130 | 0.4 | 0.4× | $111k |
| Alaska | 120 | 0.4 | 0.3× | $120k |
| Wyoming | 50 | 0.2 | 0.1× | $101k |
Top metro areas
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO10,260 jobs · $139k median
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ10,230 jobs · $163k median
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV9,370 jobs · $160k median
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX5,900 jobs · $138k median
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA5,880 jobs · $134k median
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN5,400 jobs · $144k median
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH5,240 jobs · $161k median
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA3,710 jobs · $173k median
Where this ranks
Explore Computer Network Architects interactively →Pay and outlook from BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills and work activities from O*NET 30.3. AI exposure and future-proof scores are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.