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Network technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$76,220median pay per year, or $36.64 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $47,120lowest 10% earn less
  2. $58,24025th percentile
  3. $76,220median
  4. $98,75075th percentile
  5. $127,780top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Network technician is a job title reported by computer network support specialists[1], who had a median pay of $76,220 a year in May 2025[2]. Employment is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.2%[3]
Openings per year
9,000[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do network technicians make?

The median wage for computer network support specialists was $76,220 a year, or $36.64 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $81,870 a year, or $39.36 an hour[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,120, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $58,240[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $98,750, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $127,780[4]. Hourly, the 10th percentile was $22.65 and the 90th was $61.43[9]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[5].

These figures cover about 146,190 wage and salary jobs[11]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $101,750[13]. Maryland followed at $96,680, then the District of Columbia at $91,370[13]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median, $46,840[13].

California had the most jobs, 13,620, followed by Texas with 9,930 and Florida with 9,450[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $124,130[15]. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT came next at $104,690, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $104,610[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs, 6,330, with a median of $86,930[16].

Show median pay in 47 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$101,7503,300
Maryland$96,6808,200
District of Columbia$91,370450
Massachusetts$88,6501,980
New Jersey$87,4403,370
Alaska$86,110300
Nevada$85,7902,460
Hawaii$83,620350
Rhode Island$82,970620
Colorado$82,7504,530
Connecticut$81,890850
Wisconsin$81,0101,140
California$79,19013,620
Georgia$79,1804,440
Oklahoma$78,7401,940
Pennsylvania$78,3104,170
Tennessee$77,6402,660
New York$77,5407,170
South Carolina$76,7902,660
Virginia$76,7605,650
Minnesota$76,0002,930
Florida$75,7409,450
North Dakota$73,550500
Indiana$73,1005,030
Maine$72,990680
Missouri$72,7803,910
Vermont$72,400120
New Hampshire$72,330680
Ohio$70,0807,480
Oregon$68,9002,660
Arizona$68,8801,460
Illinois$68,5306,960
Texas$66,7809,930
Michigan$65,9002,470
Nebraska$65,4501,490
Iowa$64,6001,920
New Mexico$64,5501,300
Mississippi$63,4101,240
Idaho$63,340780
Alabama$61,890940
Wyoming$61,780270
Montana$61,150890
Delaware$60,580330
Kansas$60,060310
Arkansas$59,4601,470
Louisiana$58,6801,290
South Dakota$53,650480
West Virginia$46,840600

How to become a network technician

The typical entry path asks for an associate's degree, no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers computer support specialists as a wider group[17].

In an O*NET survey of 38 workers, 47% said a bachelor's degree is required and 22% said an associate's degree[22]. Many support specialists move on to other IT jobs, such as information security analyst or network and computer systems administrator[23].

What network technicians do

O*NET describes the work as analyzing, testing, troubleshooting and evaluating network systems, and keeping them running with little interruption[24]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

Some computer support specialists can telework. Others must be onsite or travel to client locations[26]. Computer systems design and related services was the largest employer of computer support specialists, the wider group in the BLS handbook, at 20% of jobs in 2025[27]. Most computer support specialists work full time, and because support may be needed around the clock, some work nights or weekends[28]. In 2025, 2.5% of computer network support specialists were self-employed[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 152,500 to 154,400 jobs, a change of 1,900[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[30].

About 9,000 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 3.6% move to a different occupation[31]. One factor BLS lists is that the share of this work falls as companies finish cloud migrations and outsource network support to cloud providers[32].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is above the all-occupations median, but projected growth is below the all-occupations rate[2][5][3][30]. Entry typically needs an associate's degree, though a diploma plus certifications may also work[7][18]. Pay differs a lot by place, from a $101,750 median in Washington to $46,840 in West Virginia[13]. The work involves troubleshooting and helping users, which may suit people who enjoy solving technical problems and explaining them[25][33][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a network technician make an hour?
Computer network support specialists had a median of $36.64 an hour and a mean of $39.36 in May 2025[2][8].
What degree do you need to be a network technician?
The typical entry education is an associate's degree[7]. Some candidates may qualify with a high school diploma plus IT certifications[18].
Is network support in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 9,000 openings a year[3][30][6].
What is the highest paying state for network technicians?
Washington had the highest median at $101,750, followed by Maryland at $96,680[13].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 15-1231.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Computer Network Specialist, IT Consultant (Information Technology Consultant), Network Specialist, Network Support Specialist, Network Technical Analyst, Network Technician, Personal Computer Network Analyst, Systems Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Computer Network Support Specialists in the US was $76,220 per year and $36.64 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Computer Network Support Specialists is projected to grow 1.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 152,500 to 154,400 jobs (a change of +1,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Computer Network Support Specialists: 10th percentile $47,120, 25th percentile $58,240, 75th percentile $98,750, 90th percentile $127,780. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 9,000 openings for Computer Network Support Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Computer Network Support Specialists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Computer Network Support Specialists was $81,870 per year and $39.36 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Computer Network Support Specialists: 10th percentile $22.65, 25th percentile $28.00, 75th percentile $47.48, 90th percentile $61.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 146,190 people were employed as Computer Network Support Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Computer Network Support Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Computer Network Support Specialists jobs: California 13,620; Texas 9,930; Florida 9,450; Maryland 8,200; Ohio 7,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Computer Network Support Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $124,130; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $104,690; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $104,610; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $102,980; Anchorage, AK $102,330; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $101,600; Lexington Park, MD $100,750; Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $98,210. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Computer Network Support Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,330 (median $86,930); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 5,390 (median $57,220); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,100 (median $92,400); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 4,910 (median $102,980); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,740 (median $73,340); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 3,580 (median $82,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Computer Support Specialists" covers Computer Network Support Specialists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 15-1231.00 survey of workers (38 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 47%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 22%, Some College Courses 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Computer Network Support Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Computer Network Support Specialists. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of computer support specialists in 2025: Computer systems design and related services 20%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 2.5% of Computer Network Support Specialists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Computer Network Support Specialists: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Computer Network Support Specialists: Sourcing change - share decreases as companies complete cloud migrations and outsource network support to cloud providers. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.