Computer Network Support Specialists
What Computer Network Support Specialists Do
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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 2%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 4 of 5Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 5.0/5
- Telecommunicationsimportance 3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.5/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.4/5
- English Languageimportance 3.3/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.1/5
- Communications and Mediaimportance 3.0/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 3.0/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Telephone Conversations4.9/5
- E-Mail4.9/5
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.8/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8/5
- Contact With Others4.7/5
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.6/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers87% skill match
- Avionics Technicians85% skill match
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers84% skill match
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians83% skill match
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers83% skill match
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers82% skill match
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers82% skill match
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics80% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.3/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 3.1/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.1/5
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.0/5
- Systems Evaluationimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
In-Demand Technologies
Other Software Used
- Anti-spyware software
- Antivirus software
- Application management software
- Arping
- Automated installation software
- B&W Port Scanner
- BMC Software Control-M
- BMC Software Remedy IT Service Management Suite
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Adaptability
- Perseverance
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- InvestigativeMedium
- RealisticMedium
- EnterprisingLow
- SocialLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where computer network support specialists make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Ames, IA3.85× national avg
- 2Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD3.85× national avg
- 3Champaign-Urbana, IL3.00× national avg
- 4Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL2.87× national avg
- 5Cheyenne, WY2.65× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersCareer Change
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansCareer Change
- Avionics TechniciansCareer Change
- Broadcast TechniciansCareer Change
See the full career path from Computer Network Support Specialists →
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Computer Science
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)grads earn ~$188,871
- University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO)
- University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)grads earn ~$204,379
- Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR)grads earn ~$121,405
- University of Maryland-College Park (College Park, MD)grads earn ~$137,931
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$129,303
- Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, UT)grads earn ~$144,205
- University of Maryland Global Campus (Adelphi, MD)grads earn ~$130,314
- MyComputerCareer at Columbus (Columbus, OH)grads earn ~$58,108
- New York University (New York, NY)grads earn ~$152,422