Computer network architects
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Computer network architects in the United States earn a median salary of $134,050 per year — about $64 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 179K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +12%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core work of designing, documenting, and configuring networks is fundamentally digital and data-driven, making it highly susceptible to AI-driven automation and optimization tools. While physical hardware deployment and complex stakeholder management provide a slight buffer, AI is rapidly advancing in automated network topology design, security configuration, and predictive troubleshooting, which will significantly increase individual productivity and restructure the role.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNBEST VALUE | $168,910 | Below avg (90.8) | $185,981 |
| Bloomington, IL | $161,780 | Below avg (93.5) | $172,958 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $161,170 | Below avg (93.3) | $172,818 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $186,110 | Above avg (110.4) | $168,543 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $168,720 | Above avg (105.6) | $159,762 |
| Peoria, IL | $144,680 | Below avg (91.2) | $158,586 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $159,720 | Average (102.7) | $155,451 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $172,650 | Above avg (111.1) | $155,354 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $156,560 | Average (101.4) | $154,371 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $160,340 | Above avg (104.5) | $153,454 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $131,420 | Below avg (86.4) | $152,024 |
| Decatur, AL | $132,570 | Below avg (87.2) | $152,009 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $165,570 | Above avg (109.4) | $151,313 |
| Springfield, MA | $144,600 | Below avg (96.1) | $150,529 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $159,820 | Above avg (106.9) | $149,555 |