Computer Network Support Specialists: Job Description
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
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The Daily Work of Computer Network Support Specialists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of computer network support specialists span:
- 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.
What Computer Network Support Specialists Need to Know
Effective computer network support specialists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Computer Network Support Specialists Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Support Specialist
- Computer Network Analyst
- Computer Network Specialist
- Computer Network Support Specialist
- Computer Networker
- Computer Operations Technician
- Computer Systems Specialist
How Many Computer Network Support Specialists Are There?
There are about 133,198 computer network support specialists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to decline by -3.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Computer Network Support Specialists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $107,799 |
| Hourly median | $51.83 |
| 10th percentile | $62,147 |
| 25th percentile | $84,973 |
| 75th percentile | $130,625 |
| 90th percentile | $153,451 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $99,780 |
| Washington | $94,250 |
| New Jersey | $88,440 |
| District of Columbia | $86,730 |
| Massachusetts | $86,290 |
| Hawaii | $86,060 |
| Colorado | $83,350 |
| Rhode Island | $80,220 |
| North Carolina | $79,680 |
| California | $79,520 |
| Virginia | $79,370 |
| Connecticut | $78,820 |
| New York | $78,410 |
| Georgia | $77,940 |
| Alaska | $77,760 |
| Oklahoma | $77,450 |
| Minnesota | $77,110 |
| Wisconsin | $75,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,750 |
| New Hampshire | $73,640 |
| North Dakota | $70,740 |
| Oregon | $70,320 |
| Nevada | $70,000 |
| Utah | $69,280 |
| Florida | $68,950 |
| Tennessee | $68,200 |
| Indiana | $67,440 |
| Idaho | $66,910 |
| Kansas | $66,760 |
| South Carolina | $66,560 |
| Vermont | $65,790 |
| Arizona | $65,340 |
| Illinois | $64,800 |
| Texas | $64,440 |
| Maine | $64,310 |
| New Mexico | $64,280 |
| Iowa | $63,560 |
| Nebraska | $63,500 |
| Ohio | $63,370 |
| Michigan | $61,890 |
| Wyoming | $61,780 |
| Delaware | $61,740 |
| Kentucky | $61,040 |
| Missouri | $60,610 |
| Arkansas | $58,790 |
| Alabama | $58,740 |
| Montana | $57,500 |
| Louisiana | $56,470 |
| South Dakota | $52,120 |
| West Virginia | $51,670 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,600 |
| Mississippi | $50,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,160 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for computer network support specialists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $86,633 | 16.8% | 1.63 |
| New England | $80,525 | 2.7% | 0.64 |
| Far Western US | $80,487 | 12.7% | 0.79 |
| Rocky Mountains | $75,726 | 4.4% | 1.21 |
| Southeast | $69,846 | 23.2% | 1.01 |
| Plains States | $66,126 | 8.7% | 1.38 |
| Southwest | $66,044 | 11.9% | 1.00 |
| Great Lakes | $65,309 | 19.1% | 1.59 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | NC | $114,630 | 1,050 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $104,130 | 4,720 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $98,670 | 1,930 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $98,490 | 840 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $97,200 | 2,070 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $96,670 | 70 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | NY | $95,710 | 220 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $90,070 | 240 |
Top Industries Employing Computer Network Support Specialists
The largest employers of computer network support specialists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 40,870 | $74,040 |
| Information | 22,770 | $78,600 |
| Educational Services | 17,320 | $64,790 |
| Finance and Insurance | 8,970 | $78,630 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 8,770 | $80,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 7,860 | $66,220 |
| Wholesale Trade | 6,920 | $71,930 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 6,390 | $69,220 |
Below are examples of industries where computer network support specialists work:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Apache Tomcat (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Bash (hot technology)
- Switch or router software: Border Gateway Protocol BGP (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Internet directory services software: Microsoft Active Directory (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Azure software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of computer network support specialists tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Typical computer network support specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Managers (Supplemental)
- Computer Systems Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Information Security Analysts (Primary-Long)
- Computer User Support Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Computer Network Architects (Primary-Short)
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Database Administrators (Primary-Long)
- Database Architects (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring computer network support specialists often complete programs in:
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
9 programs across 5 majors
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Computer Systems Networking
- Computer Programming
- Computer Systems Analysis
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 15-1231.00 (Computer Network Support Specialists).
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