Career
Computer network architects
Design the networks that connect everything.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Develop disaster recovery plans.
- Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
- Develop and implement solutions for network problems.
- Maintain networks by performing activities such as file addition, deletion, or backup.
- Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
AI
Last year BLS cited AI in this outlook; this year's table does not. That is not evidence the job is unaffected.
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on ideas & analysis, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Develop disaster recovery plans.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Systems Evaluation.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
4 years of education after high school (bachelor's degree), for a median of $134,050 a year and 9,600 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Computer and Information SciencesSee the degree →
- Computer EngineeringSee the degree →
- Information Technology ManagementSee the degree →
- Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralCIP 11.0101
- Information TechnologyCIP 11.0103
- Computer Systems Analysis/AnalystCIP 11.0501
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Computer Network Support Specialists$76,220 · +1.2%
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators$99,130 · -4.1%
- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
- Computer Systems Analysts$105,850 · +7.9%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.