How to Become a Computer Network Architect
Design the data networks organizations run on, from office LANs to cloud and wide-area backbones. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $134,050 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$134,050/yr
Middle half
$104,620 to $168,200
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
11,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Network Design
- Routing and Switching
- Cloud Networking
- Security
- Critical Thinking
Helpful certifications
- CCNP/CCIE (Cisco)
- AWS Advanced Networking
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
54/100
Work-life balance
53/100
Stress level
52/100
Related careers
- Computer and Information Research Scientist$140,300 median
- Database Architect$139,500 median
- Computer Systems Analyst$105,850 median
- Video Game Designer$104,000 median
- Computer Programmer$100,390 median
- Network Support Specialist$76,220 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Computer Network Architect make?
The median pay for a Computer Network Architect is $134,050 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $104,620 and $168,200 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Network Architect?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Science, Management Information Systems, and Network Engineering.
Is Computer Network Architect a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 11,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Computer Network Architect use most?
Common skills for this role are Network Design, Routing and Switching, Cloud Networking, Security, and Critical Thinking.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).