← All 785 jobsFile 15-1241
Computer Network Architects
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 7.7% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
Programmers mostly use AI inside their coding tools, which consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches the job.
- Rank
- #170 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +7.7% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $134,050 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 181,800 in the US, with about 9,600 openings a year
The work, 33 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI helps with this: Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment7%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,196 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Set up computer systems, networks, or other information systems6%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 871 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards5%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications5%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.
Still yours: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop contingency or emergency response plans4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Monitor operation of computer or information technologies4%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,040 conversations, and it got them there 88% of the time.
AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Implement security measures for computer or information systems4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Resolve computer problems4%
AI performed this in about 1 in 587 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,656 Copilot conversations and completed it 72% of the time.
AI helps with this: Design computer or information systems or applications3%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 938 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Maintain operational records3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
Still yours: Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Estimate project development or operational costs3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Evaluate project feasibility2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Train others to use equipment or products2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 494 Copilot conversations and completed it 94% of the time.
AI helps with this: Test performance of computer or information systems2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,825 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
Still yours: Manage budgets or finances2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 903 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.
AI helps with this: Determine resource needs of projects or operations2%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,590 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Coordinate with others to resolve problems1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 738 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze performance of systems or equipment1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 563 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI does this: Analyze market or industry conditions1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,486 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Coordinate regulatory compliance activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 108 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 9,600 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 36% of the workComputer and Information Research Scientists26% AI does, against 36% here+21.8% by 2035 · $140,300 · Master’s degree
- Shares 30% of the workEngineers29% AI does, against 36% here+3.7% by 2035 · $122,930 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 26% of the workPetroleum Engineers28% AI does, against 36% here+2% by 2035 · $144,910 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.25, higher than 81% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Programmers mostly use AI inside their coding tools, which consumer Copilot data does not see, so this file probably understates how much AI touches the job.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 15-1241 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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