Computer Network Architect Salary
Computer Network Architects earn a median $134,050 a year nationally. Computer and Mathematical Occupations
U.S. median
$134,050
$64.45 per hour
Range
$79,900 – $202,680
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
179,740
across the U.S.
▲2.8%
Pay trend: The median for computer network architects in the U.S. rose from $130,390 (May 2024) to $134,050 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What computer network architects do
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.7% (faster than average)
- Openings per year
- 9,600
Employment of computer network architects is projected to grow 7.7% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 9,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Computer Network Architect take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$102,889
per year · effective tax rate 23.2%
$8,574Monthly
$4,287Twice a month
$3,957Every 2 weeks
$49.47Hourly
- Federal income tax$20,906
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,311
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,944
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$102,889
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,900 | $38.41 | $65,040 |
| 25th percentile | $104,620 | $50.30 | $82,430 |
| Median (50th) | $134,050 | $64.45 | $102,889 |
| 75th percentile | $168,200 | $80.87 | $126,231 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,680 | $97.44 | $150,901 |
Best cities for computer network architects (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $172,650 | $129,272 | $116,322 | 3,710 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $186,110 | $123,074 | $111,457 | 2,730 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $160,340 | $113,390 | $108,521 | 2,480 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $160,650 | $113,258 | $104,611 | 5,240 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $137,900 | $105,521 | $102,358 | 5,900 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $163,010 | $114,106 | $101,371 | 10,230 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $134,410 | $98,281 | $100,958 | 2,350 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $159,820 | $109,887 | $100,921 | 9,370 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $138,850 | $101,907 | $99,369 | 3,070 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $143,800 | $102,580 | $99,020 | 5,400 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $166,760 | $111,799 | $96,701 | 3,350 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $133,890 | $96,454 | $96,398 | 5,880 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $139,230 | $101,012 | $95,491 | 10,260 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $131,990 | $98,390 | $95,232 | 3,330 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $130,980 | $95,736 | $95,064 | 2,460 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $147,510 | $100,683 | $88,656 | 3,500 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $186,110
- Seattle, WA — $172,650
- San Francisco, CA — $166,760
- New York, NY — $163,010
- Boston, MA — $160,650
- Baltimore, MD — $160,340
- Washington, DC — $159,820
- Los Angeles, CA — $147,510
- Chicago, IL — $143,800
- Denver, CO — $139,230
- Philadelphia, PA — $138,850
- Dallas, TX — $137,900
- Charlotte, NC — $134,410
- Atlanta, GA — $133,890
- Phoenix, AZ — $131,990
Computer Network Architect salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $168,070 | +7.8% | $126,142 | $93,610 – $224,910 | 4,730 |
| New Jersey | $162,350 | +10.0% | $114,080 | $101,730 – $213,630 | 5,660 |
| Maryland | $159,460 | +11.3% | $112,837 | $98,900 – $213,140 | 5,860 |
| California | $158,870 | +14.8% | $107,243 | $97,070 – $224,930 | 14,870 |
| Massachusetts | $155,060 | +13.2% | $109,717 | $98,730 – $211,580 | 6,270 |
| South Dakota | $153,390 | +2.7% | $116,108 | $96,670 – $199,420 | 420 |
| Delaware | $148,390 | +16.0% | $104,238 | $85,270 – $199,690 | 760 |
| Connecticut | $143,890 | +7.3% | $103,131 | $98,180 – $197,040 | 1,570 |
| Virginia | $141,340 | −4.6% | $100,559 | $85,050 – $210,180 | 9,380 |
| New York | $140,390 | +3.1% | $99,980 | $83,260 – $214,590 | 9,800 |
| Colorado | $139,230 | +3.4% | $101,012 | $94,920 – $206,600 | 16,380 |
| Nevada | $138,060 | +4.5% | $105,630 | $83,830 – $164,880 | 1,010 |
| District of Columbia | $137,670 | −1.7% | $96,630 | $102,450 – $205,420 | 1,490 |
| Oregon | $135,660 | +3.7% | $92,860 | $90,360 – $173,880 | 1,540 |
| South Carolina | $134,990 | +19.6% | $96,589 | $82,060 – $185,160 | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $133,890 | +1.2% | $96,454 | $51,710 – $179,040 | 7,690 |
| Texas | $133,310 | +3.3% | $102,383 | $70,110 – $191,800 | 13,650 |
| Minnesota | $133,270 | +5.2% | $94,727 | $81,500 – $171,700 | 2,040 |
| Florida | $132,800 | +1.9% | $102,035 | $81,500 – $184,680 | 9,370 |
| Illinois | $132,790 | +0.4% | $95,600 | $81,630 – $201,190 | 7,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $131,840 | +9.5% | $97,331 | $79,240 – $188,120 | 6,080 |
| Wisconsin | $131,720 | +8.8% | $95,696 | $87,280 – $172,690 | 2,170 |
| Rhode Island | $131,320 | +4.9% | $96,387 | $58,760 – $175,800 | 460 |
| Ohio | $131,070 | +5.3% | $98,030 | $84,340 – $180,640 | 5,150 |
| Arizona | $130,890 | +5.0% | $97,666 | $81,530 – $175,820 | 3,990 |
| Alabama | $130,810 | +2.0% | $94,399 | $76,960 – $173,400 | 4,200 |
| North Carolina | $127,320 | +1.0% | $93,718 | $79,120 – $173,410 | 8,350 |
| New Hampshire | $125,420 | −5.8% | $96,991 | $76,080 – $209,530 | 560 |
| Indiana | $124,190 | +15.2% | $92,516 | $76,270 – $174,580 | 2,030 |
| Tennessee | $123,860 | +6.8% | $95,924 | $82,340 – $172,980 | 4,330 |
| West Virginia | $122,520 | +18.5% | $90,038 | $79,440 – $146,440 | 360 |
| Utah | $121,000 | −6.2% | $89,475 | $75,640 – $182,790 | 1,330 |
| Alaska | $119,720 | +6.4% | $93,053 | $88,690 – $173,070 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $116,420 | +6.2% | $86,314 | $77,570 – $163,200 | 1,350 |
| Michigan | $112,040 | −4.5% | $83,139 | $71,400 – $167,960 | 3,210 |
| Vermont | $110,930 | — | $82,008 | $84,970 – $155,420 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $110,400 | +0.5% | $82,404 | $80,930 – $166,780 | 910 |
| Oklahoma | $109,450 | +4.1% | $81,448 | $70,290 – $165,730 | 1,320 |
| New Mexico | $109,080 | −3.5% | $81,554 | $70,680 – $152,260 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $108,990 | −0.1% | $84,638 | $76,320 – $146,550 | 230 |
| Maine | $108,570 | −2.5% | $78,942 | $83,990 – $158,480 | 570 |
| Hawaii | $108,000 | −5.8% | $78,130 | $78,980 – $165,940 | 320 |
| Idaho | $107,620 | −9.6% | $79,945 | $70,720 – $174,510 | 720 |
| Louisiana | $106,620 | +2.6% | $81,025 | $78,930 – $162,340 | 470 |
| Montana | $104,300 | +3.0% | $77,673 | $73,970 – $162,590 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $103,740 | −3.0% | $78,298 | $62,850 – $168,350 | 1,710 |
| Missouri | $103,130 | −4.9% | $77,472 | $62,080 – $168,820 | 3,360 |
| Iowa | $103,050 | −3.7% | $78,062 | $62,850 – $160,320 | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $100,610 | −0.3% | $74,795 | $62,320 – $159,920 | 1,770 |
| Wyoming | $100,520 | +3.1% | $79,546 | $79,180 – $134,970 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $90,990 | −4.9% | $69,934 | $57,760 – $174,600 | — |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database Architect | $139,500 | Bachelor's degree | +9.4% |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 | Bachelor's degree | -0.1% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $99,130 | Bachelor's degree | -4.1% |
| Software Developer | $135,980 | Bachelor's degree | +10.2% |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,180 | Bachelor's degree | +21.0% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientist | $140,300 | Master's degree | +21.8% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $116,580 | Bachelor's degree | +5.1% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $105,850 | Bachelor's degree | +7.9% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester | $104,300 | Bachelor's degree | +5.7% |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $104,000 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer network architect make?
The national median salary for computer network architects is $134,050 a year ($64.45 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $79,900 and the top 10% earn over $202,680. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays computer network architects the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $168,070. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many computer network architects are there in the U.S.?
About 179,740 people work as computer network architects nationwide.