CompTIA Network+

What does an network+ Technician earn?

*Median National Salary:
$80,600

*Annual Job Postings:
135,900+

*Job Growth Above National Average:
3%

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook

Bureau Of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

ONet
Job Info

* Source: CompTIA | Lightcast | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Note: Many factors influence salaries, including location, job level, specialty skills and years of experience. Job posting figures are for the 12-month period ending October 2022 and serve as a proxy for employer demand. *The 10-year projected job growth above the national average rate covers 2022-2032.

Technology plays an ever-expanding role in our lives. You can scarcely go anywhere or do anything without encountering it in some form. Despite the pervasive nature of this technological influence, many of us give little thought to the underlying systems and infrastructure that make it all possible. But luckily for us, network architects think about it extensively.

Spoiler alert, much of our interactions rely heavily on the ability to link different devices together, making use of complex computer systems through data communication. The constant exchange of information from one device to another is a regular occurrence for both personal and professional activities. A critical component for business operations, networks are essential for securing information and ensuring data privacy while helping us access various software applications and perform complex tasks every single day.

Networks supply that much-needed foundation for allowing us to exchange information quickly, accurately and safely across devices. As the framework for our technology activities, networks must be designed to meet the unique needs of each organization—and that’s precisely what network architects do. They design, implement and manage networks, both from a software and hardware perspective.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Network Architect

Network architects are responsible for designing an organization’s network specifically to accomplish outlined business goals. Each computer network needs to be configured in such a way that all end users are able to securely and efficiently access the tools necessary to perform their job. This also involves implementing the network to meet rigorous security standards alongside installing and configuring any hardware elements. These IT pros should have a firm grasp of a variety of networks, including LANs (local area networks), WANs (wide area networks) and intranets.

What kind of tasks should IT professionals be prepared for in the role of network architect? Job duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Designing network systems to meet operational demands and industry standards.
• Managing the entire network implementation process.
• Monitoring network performance and taking follow-up steps to resolve latency issues and security concerns.
• Performing regular network upgrades to create greater efficiency.
• Creating backups in case of a blackout or breach.
• Repairing defective or outdated network hardware.
• Documenting the entire network ecosystem, including bot software and hardware.
• Staying on top of new advancements to optimize network performance

Essential Skills for a Network Architect Role

Network architects are most successful with a variety of skills tucked into their toolkit. Because this role involves technical skills while ensuring that end users have the correct permissions, access and technology tools, an ideal candidate will possess a broad range of technical competencies and durable skills.

A network architect job description may involve the following hard (technical) skills:

• Advanced understanding of technical architecture design.
• Experience with network infrastructure.
• Proven track record of network hardware installation and configuration.
• Maintaining routers and switches.
• Managing firewall installation and ongoing monitoring.
• In-depth knowledge of network security principles and cybersecurity protocols.
• Knowledge of load balancers and how best to apply them.
• Experience with technical support.
• Understanding of virtual private networks (VPNs).
• Experience with domain name system (DNS).
• Knowledge of network frameworks and the impacts of using different types.
• Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) best practices.
• Understanding of IPv6.
• Experience with network segmentation.
• General understanding of software development and its impact on networking demands.
• A foundational understanding of operating systems and how those affect the network design

Helpful durable (soft) skills for a network architect could include the following:

• Strong analytical skills, critical thinking and problem-solving to help troubleshoot complex issues.
• Good communication skills for managing knowledge transfer and issue resolution with end users.
• Meticulous attention to detail in design development and documentation.
• Effective team management to ensure appropriate management of all network-related tasks and issues.

Education and Certification Requirements

Network architect jobs usually require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Employers often look for education in a related field, such as information technology, computer science, computer information systems or an engineering degree. Some smaller organizations may accept an associate degree for an entry-level position, but higher education is typically preferred.

IT certifications help to rectify any skills gaps and demonstrate your knowledge of areas that may not be immediately apparent given your past experience. Recommended certifications for network architects include:

• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Routing and Switching (CCIE R&S)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
• CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Certification
• VMware Certified Professional
• VMware Certified Advanced Professional
• VMware Certified Design Expert
• Network5-Certifiation
• Juniper Networks Certified Associate-Junos (JNCIA-Junos)

Salary and Job Outlook
Overall, the outlook for network architects is positive. Data from CompTIA State of the Tech Workforce 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Lightcast show more than 97,200 job postings by U.S. employers for network architects during the 12-month period June 2022 – May 2023.

The median annual salary for network architects in the United States is $126,900 – this is 174% higher than the median national wage for all occupations. Although, it’s important to note that many factors influence salary, such as location, job level, years of experience, specialty skills, industry sector, employer size and more.

Job titles that fall under the network architect umbrella might include the following:

• Network engineer
• Cloud architect
• IT analyst
• Cloud network engineer
• Technical architect
• Platform architect
• Network analyst
• Systems engineer
• Solution architect
• Systems architect
• Systems administrator
• Network administrator

How to Become a Network Architect

There isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all plan or linear career path to a network architect job, but these steps can help you get there:

1. Start with education. Plan to pursue a four-year degree program that is based in technology or engineering. If you choose to focus on engineering, you may also consider a minor in computer science to round out your educational base.
2. Target entry-level jobs in networking or a related field. Before moving into a network architect role, you’ll want to gain valuable experience that can be applied in the future.
3. Get certified. Certifications can speak volumes toward demonstrating the specific skill sets required for a network architect job. It’s also a good idea to use certifications to fill any skills gaps. For example, you may opt for a security certification to demonstrate you can apply security principles to your network’s design.
4. Go job hunting! Network architects can work in almost any industry. Identify industries you like and start submitting your resumes. Don’t forget to practice interviewing and prep your resume to stand out from the crowd.

How Long Does It Take?

Becoming a network architect is an investment. Most network architect job roles are considered to be advanced positions and require a minimum of five to 10 years of experience. If you add in time for obtaining a four-year degree, candidates will be looking at a minimum of approximately nine years. However, you can develop a wide range of skills in this career path that will lead to a fulfilling and stable network architect career.

If you think of the help desk as a video game, you’ll immediately understand what a Tier II IT support technician does. Let me explain. While playing level one, you’re getting your feet wet and learning how the game works.

Once you master level one, you are rewarded by moving up to level two, where you are met with more complex challenges. IT pros who have mastered their work as Tier I IT support technicians can move up to a Tier II IT support technician – where the technical issues are often more difficult to resolve.

What Is a Tier II IT Support Technician?
A Tier II IT support technician may also be advertised as a Tier II help desk technician or analyst, or even a Tier II system support technician.

An IT pro in this position is responsible for assisting internal or external clients in the following ways:

• Resolve complex issues requiring detailed systems and applications knowledge that have been escalated from Tier I.
• Maintain system capabilities by testing existing equipment and programs.
• Try out new systems and software.
• Train users on proper use of hardware and software.
• Manage and train Tier I support technicians

IT support is usually a large part of a company’s overall customer service philosophy, so a support technician should be able to straddle the technical world of IT and the practical side of customer service. Tier II IT support technicians usually have a specialization and are able to determine if a problem is a new issue or an existing one.

For example, perhaps a customer spent 10 minutes working with a Tier I technician on a software issue without a resolution. The issue would then be escalated to a Tier II tech, who would then either fix the problem or categorize it as an open bug. In that case, the Tier II tech adds the entry to the bug list that is eventually handed over to the developer to rectify.

IT Career Paths: How to Get into IT Support

How the Help Desk Is Structured

By design, the help desk is structured to staff the front line with IT pros who are trained to quickly help end users with minor technical difficulties, like accessing new software, offline printers or even software updates. These Tier I IT support technicians are usually entry-level employees and generally serve as an FAQ knowledge base for clients.

If Tier I can’t solve the problem, the issue is escalated to Tier II. Tier II positions require more experience, specialization and training. Similarly, Tier III jobs require even further experience and education.

Moving up through the help desk not only increases your paycheck, but also, the knowledge you gain during your tenure can help you expand your career path to cloud and systems administration, network operations, cybersecurity or IT business management – just to name a few.

How to Become a Tier II IT Support Technician

Certifications like CompTIA A+ can get your foot in the door by proving to employers you have the skills they look for in IT support technicians. And adding CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ can help you advance your career from Tier I to Tier II. Check out the CompTIA Career Roadmap to see what other certifications can help you become a Tier II IT support technician.

The Details

Tier II IT Support Technician Salary Range

$52,270 to $88,240 with a median annual wage of $63,460 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).

Tier II IT Support Technician Job Outlook

Employment of computer support specialists is projected to grow 10% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations, with 83,100 net new jobs expected during that 10-year period. Employment of support specialists within computer systems design and related services firms is projected to grow by 24%.

Job Titles Related to Tier II IT Support Technician

• Help desk technician
• Technical support specialist
• Field service technician

Effective IT teams are essential to the operational success of nearly any business. Like any other business team, IT benefits from solid leadership. An effective IT leader needs to be able to manage teams efficiently and communicate with end users, vendors and those outside the industry. If you have an interest in leading a team, while still providing end-user support and education, you may be interested in a career as an IT support manager.

What Is an IT Support Manager?

The IT support manager leads the help desk team, which may include various tiers of help desk technicians and technical support specialists. To do this, IT support managers need to have a working knowledge of the software and hardware systems in place at an organization and be able to implement or optimize the troubleshooting processes that lead to successful resolution of IT issues.

Successful IT support managers also equip their team with the necessary resources and training to facilitate optimal outcomes. They must also be able to communicate sophisticated technology concepts to both IT pros and end users, the latter of which may have limited technical understanding.

Other duties of an IT support manager may include the following:

• Providing an optimal working environment for help desk employees while enabling quick and effective resolution.
• Training employees to adhere to customer service principles and best practices.
• Enabling fast and successful resolution of user issues.
• Supporting communication between escalation teams and end users.
• Developing a knowledge base of easily accessible resources for help desk employees to use when assisting end users.
• Evaluating the performance of individual technicians.
• Ensuring help desk technicians are abiding by ticketing expectations and tracking the resolution of problems.
• Supporting the delivery of quality technical support for end users or clients.

An IT support manager is expected to develop necessary processes to make sure user issues are resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. These leaders need a wide-ranging knowledge of troubleshooting procedures and common IT problems.

Additionally, they are expected to guide their team to track issues from start to finish. Effective IT support managers will manage both people and processes to enable the smooth and quick resolution of technical problems.

How to Become an IT Support Manager
IT support managers have usually worked their way up the tiers of the help desk. Ideally, an IT support manager also has leadership experience, either formally as a supervisor or as a team lead.

Some organizations may require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but experience and IT certifications may suffice. CompTIA certifications like CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Project+ can validate your skills and show employers you’re an ideal fit for the position. Check out the CompTIA Career Roadmap to see what other certifications can help you become an IT support manager.

The Details

IT Support Manager Salary Range
The 2019 median annual salary for this position was $59,234. (Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights 2019)

IT Support Manager Job Outlook
There were 11,093 job postings for IT support manager roles in 2019, according to Burning Glass Technologies (2019) Labor Insights.

Job Titles Related to IT Support Manager

• Help desk manager
• Technical support manager
• IT support team lead

If you like to manage systems and solve connectivity issues, then network administration may be a good next step for you.

What Is a Network Administrator?
A network administrator focuses on the day-to-day management and maintenance of existing networks, ensuring their optimal performance, security and availability. Their responsibilities include:

• Monitoring network performance.
• Troubleshooting connectivity issues.
• Managing user access.
• Implementing network policies and procedures.
• Managing backup systems for the network

Depending on the size of the organization, network administrators might be responsible for supporting the desktop computers as well as other networked devices. Network administrators must have a thorough understanding of switches, routers and networked communications. Network administrators ensure the smooth operation of the network and address any problems that arise.

IT Career Paths: How to Get into IT Support

How to Become a Network Administrator

While many network administrators hold an undergrad or graduate degree in computer science, network administration, systems engineering or a similar field of study, entry-level networking positions may not require a college degree. In most higher positions, however, a degree and certifications are required. Being CompTIA Network+ certified shows employers that you have skills to succeed as a network administrator. Check out the CompTIA Career Roadmap to see what other certifications can help you become a network administrator.

CompTIA Linux+ validates the skills of IT pros with hands-on experience configuring, monitoring and supporting servers running on the Linux operating system. This could be a key addition towards becoming a network administrator.

The exam focuses on the following skills:

• Security
• Kernel modules
• Storage and virtualization
• Device management at the enterprise level
• Git and automation
• Networking and firewalls
• Server side and command line
• Server coverage
• Troubleshooting
• SELinux

The Details

Network Administrator Salary Range

Network administrators have a median annual wage of $80,600 as of May 2021 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).

Network Administrator Job Outlook

From 2021 to 2031 the BLS projects an increase of 3% for network administrators, with 11,300 net new jobs expected during that 10-year period.

Job Titles Related to Network Administrator:

• Network engineer
• Network designer
• Network systems and data communications analyst
• Telecommunications engineer/personnel/specialist
• Network systems engineer

While there are many critical roles within an organization, systems administrators keep the IT systems running. Their critical role ensures that employees can access what they need when they need it. Systems administrators work with physical computer networks, allowing them to be highly employable by many different organizations. If you are interested in working with the day-to-day operations of computer networks, a career as a systems administrator, or SysAdmin, could be your next move.

What Is a Systems Administrator?

A systems administrator’s responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the company hardware and software are working as intended.
• Installing all the applications needed to support the organization.
• Updating systems when new software is released.
• Maintaining user accounts and access

Some functions of a systems administrator may overlap with the organization’s network administrator, depending on the size of the organization. While a network administrator’s primary focus is the organization’s servers and network, a systems administrator primarily focuses on other working parts of the IT system, including the computers themselves and software.

Systems administrators also organize, install and support an organization’s computer system, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), network segments and other data communication systems.

How To Become a Systems Administrator
Most employers look for systems administrator with a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as computer and information technology. Employers usually require three to five years of experience for systems administration positions.

However, because system administrators work with computer hardware and equipment, a degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering can be beneficial. Systems administrators have opportunity for career advancement as well, such as later becoming a computer network architect.

Adding certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Network+ will show employers you have the current skills to be successful as a systems administrator. Check out the CompTIA Career Roadmap for a comprehensive list of certifications that can help you become a systems administrator.

CompTIA Security+ covers the key skills a systems administrator needs to secure their systems, which are very similar to the skills needed of a security administrator. Typically, a systems administrator must harden their systems to be more secure and must understand the security implications of proper hardware, software and data asset management. They must also implement security controls to help ensure their systems remain secure, with the ability to report and communicate system status and security incidents.

CompTIA Linux+ validates the skills of IT pros with hands-on experience configuring, monitoring and supporting servers running on the Linux operating system. CompTIA Linux+ can also be a great tool towards becoming a systems administrator.

The exam focuses on the following skills:

• Security
• Kernel modules
• Storage and virtualization
• Device management at the enterprise level
• Git and automation
• Networking and firewalls
• Server side and command line
• Server coverage
• Troubleshooting
• SELinux

The Details

Systems Administrator Salary Range

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for a systems administrator is $90,520 as of May 2022, which is 95% higher than the median national wage for all occupations.

Systems Administrator Job Outlook

According to Lightcast, there were more than 131,400 job postings by U.S. employers for systems administrators during the 12 month period ending on March 2023.

Job Titles Related to Systems Administration

• Network administrator
• Security administrator
• Junior penetration tester
• Cybersecurity specialist

Data centers provide compute, storage and networking infrastructure to an organization. They house an organization’s critical applications, data and digital assets and may be an on-premises or hybrid server environment.

Data center technicians provide an array of technical support to an organization’s data center. They help ensure that the servers are consistently running smoothly, but when they’re not running smoothly, data center technicians help problem solve and determine resolutions to avoid major downtime. With the virtual nature of data centers, security, reliability and availability are of utmost importance.

If you enjoy configuring server hardware, implementing security controls and troubleshooting, a data center technician job may be for you.

What is a Data Center Technician?

A data center technician’s job responsibilities could include the following:

• Monitoring the health and performance of servers by performing routine assessments.
• Installing and updating server components based on diagnostic reports.
• Reacting and responding to potential network and server issues in a timely fashion to keep business data flowing.
• Documenting processes and managing activity logs.
• Data center technicians will work closely with other IT pros. For example, a data center technician might work with a network engineer to ensure network efficiency or a cybersecurity analyst to improve data security.

How to Become a Data Center Technician

Most employers are looking for IT pros with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or a related field. As a data center technician, you need to have hardware troubleshooting and repair skills to keep networks intact. Additionally, data center technicians are expected to have knowledge of servers, routers and other specific tech equipment.

Employers usually require about two years of hands-on experience working with servers or in a server environment. Job roles like help desk technician or technical support specialist can help IT pros gain the experience needed to work in a data center.

IT certifications such as CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Server+ will show employers that you have the expected knowledge and skills to succeed as a data center technician.

The Details

Data Center Technician Salary Range

The median annual wage for a data center technician is $70,500 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).

Data Center Technician Job Outlook

Burning Glass reported a total of 7,393 U.S. employer job postings for data center technicians over the past 12 months.

Job Titles Related to Data Center Technician

• Systems administrator
• Network support administrator
• Data center engineer
• Server support technician