Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 15-1231

Computer Network Support Specialists

The published band from $47,120 to $127,780 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Information Security Analysts.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Computer Network Support Specialists: Information Security Analysts ($129K) , Computer Programmers ($100K) , Web and Digital Interface Designers ($104K) , Mathematicians ($127K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Computer Network Support Specialists publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1231 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Back up network data
  2. 2. Configure security settings or access permissions for groups or individuals
  3. 3. Analyze and report computer network security breaches or attempted breaches
  4. 4. Identify the causes of networking problems, using diagnostic testing software and equipment
  5. 5. Document network support activities
  6. 6. Configure wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) routers or related equipment
  7. 7. Install network software, including security or firewall software
  8. 8. Troubleshoot network or connectivity problems for users or user groups
  9. 9. Provide telephone support related to networking or connectivity issues
  10. 10. Evaluate local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) performance data to ensure sufficient availability or speed, to identify net…
  11. 11. Analyze network data to determine network usage, disk space availability, or server function
  12. 12. Perform routine maintenance or standard repairs to networking components or equipment

Computer Network Support Specialists: O*NET ranks Critical Thinking first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1231 - lead skill Critical Thinking at 3.8 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Critical Thinking 3.8
  2. 2. Active Listening 3.5
  3. 3. Reading Comprehension 3.4
  4. 4. Judgment and Decision Making 3.4
  5. 5. Speaking 3.3
  6. 6. Active Learning 3.3
  7. 7. Monitoring 3.3
  8. 8. Complex Problem Solving 3.3

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 5.0
  2. 2. Telecommunications 3.8
  3. 3. Customer and Personal Service 3.5
  4. 4. Engineering and Technology 3.4
  5. 5. English Language 3.3
  6. 6. Administration and Management 3.1
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$47,120 to $127,780
median $76,220 · ~2.7× spread
$76K
National median
↑ +2%
Growth 2024-2034
9,600
Annual openings
146,190
Estimated US jobs
Information Security Analysts
Highest-pay peer · $129K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Associate's degree

Top Paying States for Computer Network Support Specialists

1. Colorado $82,750
2. Alaska $86,110
3. District of Columbia $91,370
4. Rhode Island $82,970
5. Maryland $96,680
6. Washington $101,750
7. Massachusetts $88,650
8. Hawaii $83,620
9. New Jersey $87,440
10. Nevada $85,790

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Web and Digital Interface Designers $104,000
  2. 2. Computer Programmers $100,390
  3. 3. Mathematicians $126,710
  4. 4. Data Scientists $120,230
  5. 5. Information Security Analysts $129,180
  6. 6. Database Administrators $104,620

The OEWS band for Computer Network Support Specialists runs from $47,120 (10th) to $127,780 (90th), about 2.7× wide, with median $76,220. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect +2% change between 2024 and 2034 (about as fast as average vs baseline 3.1%). About 9,600 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Associate's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Colorado at $82,750. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Information Security Analysts at $129,180. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Computer Network Support Specialists pay-rank #20 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

On the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table (21 detailed occupations with OEWS medians), Computer Network Support Specialists lands at #20, in the lower third. That rank is a table position, not a statement about individual workers.

Other lower-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

SOC 15-1231 · national median $76,220 · lower third of Computer and Mathematical Occupations (#20/21). Open the full OEWS map or a named state before treating the card median as a local ask.

Computer Network Support Specialists salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1231

Colorado · top state for Computer Network Support Specialists

$83K published median

Alaska · #2 state pay

$86K · behind Colorado

Information Security Analysts

Highest-pay peer vs Computer Network Support Specialists · $129K

Computer Programmers

Lower-pay peer beside Computer Network Support Specialists · $100K

Compare Computer Network Support Specialists

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Computer Network Support Specialists with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Computer Network Support Specialists land on the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table? ▼
Computer Network Support Specialists is pay-rank #20 of 21 in this major group, lower third of the median table. Closest lower-third titles: Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other ($81K), Operations Research Analysts ($89K), Computer User Support Specialists ($62K), Web Developers ($93K). That position is a table rank, not a worker percentile.
What do computer network support specialists do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Computer Network Support Specialists. Leading ones include: 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. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for computer network support specialists? ▼
For SOC 15-1231, O*NET importance scores lead with Critical Thinking (3.8), Active Listening (3.5), Reading Comprehension (3.4), Judgment and Decision Making (3.4). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Computer Network Support Specialists? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $47,120 and the 90th at $127,780 for Computer Network Support Specialists (2.7× spread). The national median is $76,220. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Computer Network Support Specialists? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Computer Network Support Specialists is +2%. Projected annual openings: about 9,600. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: about as fast as average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Computer Network Support Specialists? ▼
BLS assigns Associate's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Computer Network Support Specialists. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Computer Network Support Specialists? ▼
Colorado ($82,750), Alaska ($86,110), District of Columbia ($91,370) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Computer Network Support Specialists card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1231. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Computer Network Support Specialists. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics