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Computer Network Architects

What They Do:

  • Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
  • Develop disaster recovery plans.
  • Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning.
  • Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks.
  • Develop conceptual, logical, or physical network designs.

Source: O*NET (2023)

Sample Job Titles:

  1. Network Engineers
  2. Computer Network Specialists
  3. Telecommunications Engineers
  4. Cloud Network Engineers
  5. Cloud Architects

Outlook in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 2,631
Projected Annual Growth 0.3%
Average Entry Level Salary $85,600
Median Salary $128,800

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Computer Network Architects (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
507
Current Workforce
2,631

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Cisco Certified Network Associate
  • Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional
  • Security Clearance
  • Secret Clearance
  • IAT Level II Certification
  • Microsoft Certified Professional
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Certified Novell Administrator
  • Certified Nursing Assistant

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Network Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Firewall
  • Telecommunications
  • Network Switches
  • Local Area Networks
  • Network Routing
  • Wide Area Networks
  • Computer Networks
  • Operating Systems

Source: Lightcast™ accessed August 10, 2022

Outlook in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 8,044
Projected Annual Growth 0.7%
Average Entry Level Salary $86,900
Median Salary $131,600

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Computer Network Architects (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
1,622
Current Workforce
8,044

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Top Secret-Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI Clearance)
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional
  • Security Clearance
  • Secret Clearance
  • CompTIA Security+
  • IAT Level II Certification
  • Top Secret Clearance
  • Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Network Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Firewall
  • Network Switches
  • Wide Area Networks
  • Local Area Networks
  • Network Routing
  • Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
  • Automation
  • Operating Systems

Outlook in the Richmond, VA MSA MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)

Employment (Q1 2022) 947
Projected Annual Growth 0.3%
Average Entry Level Salary $76,100
Median Salary $120,000

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Supply-Demand Snapshot: Computer Network Architects (all levels)
Entry Level Job Ads
132
Current Workforce
947

Source: JobsEQ by Chmura, accessed August 20, 2022. Analysis conducted in August 2022 by Greater Washington Partnership. Data above represents job postings from the January 2021-December 2021.

Preferred Certifications

(Entry level jobs requiring a high school diploma, Associate’s degree, and Bachelor's degree)

  • Cisco Certified Network Professional
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate
  • Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
  • Secret Clearance
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security)
  • Security Clearance
  • Systems Security Certified Practitioner
  • CompTIA Security+ CE
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
  • GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional

Top 10 Skills Requested

(entry level jobs requiring up through a bachelor’s degree)

  • Network Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Wide Area Networks
  • Automation
  • Network Routing
  • Python (Programming Language)
  • Firewall
  • Network Switches
  • Telecommunications
  • Border Gateway Protocol

Source: Lightcast™ accessed August 10, 2022

Largest Employers in the Region:

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