Computer network support specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Mean (average) | $81,870 | $39.36 |
| 90th percentile | $127,780 | $61.43 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Computer network support specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,890 | $40,290 | $99,270 | 940 | 0.47 |
| Alaska | $86,110 | $48,410 | $105,540 | 300 | 1 |
| Arizona | $68,880 | $48,470 | $120,440 | 1,460 | 0.48 |
| Arkansas | $59,460 | $42,340 | $102,450 | 1,470 | 1.2 |
| California | $79,190 | $50,090 | $148,940 | 13,620 | 0.8 |
| Colorado | $82,750 | $52,710 | $126,300 | 4,530 | 1.68 |
| Connecticut | $81,890 | $60,080 | $128,940 | 850 | 0.53 |
| Delaware | $60,580 | $44,650 | $101,350 | 330 | 0.72 |
| District of Columbia | $91,370 | $67,700 | $151,420 | 450 | 0.68 |
| Florida | $75,740 | $47,780 | $125,320 | 9,450 | 1.01 |
| Georgia | $79,180 | $47,910 | $130,080 | 4,440 | 0.96 |
| Guam | $46,110 | $35,460 | $129,850 | 40 | 0.62 |
| Hawaii | $83,620 | $51,760 | $114,910 | 350 | 0.59 |
| Idaho | $63,340 | $46,380 | $100,980 | 780 | 0.97 |
| Illinois | $68,530 | $47,510 | $104,950 | 6,960 | 1.21 |
| Indiana | $73,100 | $45,870 | $120,910 | 5,030 | 1.67 |
| Iowa | $64,600 | $47,330 | $93,760 | 1,920 | 1.31 |
| Kansas | $60,060 | $45,570 | $98,350 | 310 | 0.23 |
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 1,720 | 0.91 | ||
| Louisiana | $58,680 | $41,950 | $89,910 | 1,290 | 0.71 |
| Maine | $72,990 | $44,930 | $89,610 | 680 | 1.14 |
| Maryland | $96,680 | $52,870 | $170,830 | 8,200 | 3.16 |
| Massachusetts | $88,650 | $60,980 | $134,250 | 1,980 | 0.58 |
| Michigan | $65,900 | $40,250 | $108,250 | 2,470 | 0.6 |
| Minnesota | $76,000 | $52,940 | $104,970 | 2,930 | 1.06 |
| Mississippi | $63,410 | $37,320 | $97,530 | 1,240 | 1.14 |
| Missouri | $72,780 | $42,440 | $129,510 | 3,910 | 1.42 |
| Montana | $61,150 | $49,520 | $93,270 | 890 | 1.85 |
| Nebraska | $65,450 | $44,490 | $108,870 | 1,490 | 1.54 |
| Nevada | $85,790 | $51,010 | $109,990 | 2,460 | 1.69 |
| New Hampshire | $72,330 | $45,760 | $109,310 | 680 | 1.06 |
| New Jersey | $87,440 | $50,830 | $136,260 | 3,370 | 0.84 |
| New Mexico | $64,550 | $46,690 | $124,400 | 1,300 | 1.59 |
| New York | $77,540 | $48,970 | $128,350 | 7,170 | 0.79 |
| North Carolina | Data unavailable | 6,080 | 1.31 | ||
| North Dakota | $73,550 | $55,590 | $111,490 | 500 | 1.24 |
| Ohio | $70,080 | $45,980 | $122,470 | 7,480 | 1.43 |
| Oklahoma | $78,740 | $49,740 | $132,240 | 1,940 | 1.21 |
| Oregon | $68,900 | $46,320 | $99,660 | 2,660 | 1.44 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,310 | $50,140 | $125,900 | 4,170 | 0.73 |
| Puerto Rico | $39,570 | $28,890 | $77,540 | 670 | 0.76 |
| Rhode Island | $82,970 | $59,810 | $129,450 | 620 | 1.32 |
| South Carolina | $76,790 | $48,800 | $113,780 | 2,660 | 1.23 |
| South Dakota | $53,650 | $42,100 | $73,360 | 480 | 1.12 |
| Tennessee | $77,640 | $49,190 | $118,380 | 2,660 | 0.86 |
| Texas | $66,780 | $45,440 | $110,570 | 9,930 | 0.75 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 990 | 0.61 | ||
| Vermont | $72,400 | $52,950 | $97,740 | 120 | 0.41 |
| Virgin Islands | $56,360 | $44,900 | $90,240 | 30 | 1.15 |
| Virginia | $76,760 | $47,060 | $127,430 | 5,650 | 1.46 |
| Washington | $101,750 | $62,600 | $171,300 | 3,300 | 0.99 |
| West Virginia | $46,840 | $30,260 | $75,150 | 600 | 0.9 |
| Wisconsin | $81,010 | $57,840 | $107,840 | 1,140 | 0.41 |
| Wyoming | $61,780 | $42,900 | $92,960 | 270 | 1.01 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for computer network support specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for computer network support specialists
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General CIP 11.0201
- Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst CIP 11.0501
- Computer Science CIP 11.0701
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications CIP 11.0901
- Cloud Computing CIP 11.0902
- Network and System Administration/Administrator CIP 11.1001
- System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager CIP 11.1002
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance CIP 11.1003
- Computer Support Specialist CIP 11.1006
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Back up network data.
- Configure security settings or access permissions for groups or individuals.
- Analyze and report computer network security breaches or attempted breaches.
- Identify the causes of networking problems, using diagnostic testing software and equipment.
- Document network support activities.
- Configure wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) routers or related equipment.
- Install network software, including security or firewall software.
- Troubleshoot network or connectivity problems for users or user groups.
Technology skills
- Apple macOS (in demand)
- Linux (in demand)
- Microsoft Active Directory (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Windows (in demand)
- Microsoft Windows Server (in demand)
- ServiceNow (in demand)
- Firewall software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Apache Tomcat (hot technology)
- Bash (hot technology)
- Border Gateway Protocol BGP (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Azure software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, Systems Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Computer Network Specialist, IT Consultant (Information Technology Consultant), Network Specialist, Network Support Specialist, Network Technical Analyst, Network Technician, Personal Computer Network Analyst, Systems Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do computer network support specialists make?
The national median annual wage for computer network support specialists was $76,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $47,120 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $127,780. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do computer network support specialists need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is computer network support specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of computer network support specialists to change +1.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay computer network support specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($101,750), Maryland ($96,680), District of Columbia ($91,370). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.