Computer
Network Technician Salary Information
National
salaries for most network technicians range from $34,000 to $75,000 in May
2021, according to PayScale.com, excluding bonuses. The median annual wage was
$48,312 at that time.
Network
Technician Career Information
According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), network technicians are qualified
to work in a variety of industries, including computer systems design,
telecommunications companies, schools, hospitals, and government agencies. The
BLS also reports that job prospects should be good in any industry, with
computer support specialist jobs projected to increase by 8% from 2019 to 2029.
computer and
network technician salary
Most
companies require experienced technicians to be familiar with the different
types and providers of networks. Formal education, either as a bachelor's or
associate's degree program in computer science or information systems, may be
required for advanced positions. Technicians in entry-level positions may
receive on-the-job training. The BLS reports the average duration for such
training is approximately three months. The day-to-day duties of a computer
network technician often include:
Installing
and configuring Internet networks and systems
Perform
routine network maintenance
Troubleshoot
network or server problems
Helping
clients or customers
Computer
Network Certification Exam
For
some employers certification is mandatory. There are many specialized and
specialized certification exams offered by network vendors, such as Cisco,
Microsoft and Novell for technicians at an early or advanced stage in their
career.
A
more common and highly respected exam is the CompTIA A+ certification offered
by the non-profit organization CompTIA. To be certified, network technicians
must pass two exams that test essential networking knowledge and practical
troubleshooting. CompTIA recommends that test takers have at least 500 hours of
experience in the industry.
Computer
network technicians perform most of the maintenance and troubleshooting tasks
to keep computer systems running and to keep users happy. The median salary for
this career field is just over $48,000 in May 2021, per PayScale.com, and the
BLS projects a faster-than-average rate of job growth over the 2019-2029
decade. After obtaining post-secondary education, most individuals need to be
certified throughout their careers to stay abreast of new skills and
technologies.