Computer Network Architect Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Computer Network Architects — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$134,050
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$64.45
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$202,680
entry level starts ~$79,900
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 180,000 employed

How much does a Computer Network Architect make?

A Computer Network Architect earns a median annual salary of $134,050 in the United States, which works out to roughly $64.45 per hour for full-time work. Most Computer Network Architects earn between $79,900 at the entry level and $202,680 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $104,620 and $168,200 a year.

That is $72,660 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Computer Network Architect salary range by percentile

Half of all Computer Network Architects earn between $104,620 and $168,200 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$79,900$38.41
25th percentile (early career)$104,620$50.30
50th percentile (median)$134,050$64.45
75th percentile (experienced)$168,200$80.87
90th percentile (top earners)$202,680$97.44

Highest-paying states for Computer Network Architect

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Computer Network Architect pay at $168,070 a year, followed by New Jersey ($162,350) and Maryland ($159,460). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $90,990 — a gap of $77,080 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$168,070$80.80+25%
2New Jersey$162,350$78.05+21%
3Maryland$159,460$76.66+19%
4California$158,870$76.38+19%
5Massachusetts$155,060$74.55+16%

Workforce and education

About 180,000 people work as Computer Network Architects in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $139,580 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Computer Network Architect make in the United States?
The median Computer Network Architect salary in the United States is $134,050 per year, or about $64.45 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $79,900, while the top 10% of earners make $202,680 or more.
How does Computer Network Architect pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Computer Network Architect median of $134,050 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Computer Network Architects the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Computer Network Architects, with a median salary of $168,070 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Computer Network Architect?
Becoming a Computer Network Architect typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Computer Network Architects work in the United States?
About 180,000 people were employed as Computer Network Architects in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other technology roles with similar pay.

Software Developer

$135,980
median pay · 1,688,000 employed

Database Architect

$139,500
median pay · 67,000 employed

Database Administrator

$104,620
median pay · 70,000 employed

Computer Programmer

$100,390
median pay · 92,000 employed

Mathematician

$126,710
median pay · 2,000 employed

Computer Occupation, All Other

$116,580
median pay · 435,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.