computer and network technician salary

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.