# Computer Network Support Specialists

> Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-support-specialists
- SOC code: 15-1231.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $76,220 (10th percentile $47,120, 90th percentile $127,780)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.2%
- Openings a year: 9,000
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 56 |
| Investigative (I) | 60 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 21 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 74 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 99/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Getting Information (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 71/100)
- Processing Information (importance 70/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 69/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 64/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Speaking, Systems Analysis, Troubleshooting

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Administration and Management, Communications and Media, Education and Training, Administrative, Design

## Also called

Cloud Engineer, Cloud Support Specialist, Computer Network Analyst, Computer Network Specialist, Computer Network Support Specialist, Computer Networker, Computer Operations Technician, Computer Systems Specialist, Configuration Technician, Controls Programmer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)
- [Computer Science](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1107) (CIP 1107, 1,070 colleges)
- [Computer Programming](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1102) (CIP 1102, 608 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1109) (CIP 1109, 546 colleges)
- [Computer Systems Analysis](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1105) (CIP 1105, 124 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer Science | $173,492 | $268,121 | $19,000 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Computer Science | $171,815 | $225,141 | $10,000 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Computer Science | $151,551 | $223,309 | $12,500 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Computer Science | $155,162 | $217,973 | not reported |
| [Pomona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pomona-college-2139) | Computer Science | $100,072 | $217,051 | not reported |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Computer Science | $157,763 | $214,907 | $12,000 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Computer Science | $141,816 | $214,479 | $15,000 |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Computer Science | $109,425 | $209,574 | $12,000 |

## Related careers

- [Computer Network Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-architects): $134,050 median pay
- [Network and Computer Systems Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators): $99,130 median pay
- [Computer User Support Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-user-support-specialists): $61,860 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Information Security Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-engineers): $116,580 median pay
- [Information Security Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-analysts): $129,180 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.