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Best states for a computer network specialist
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like computer network specialists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for computer network specialists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Although there are abundant computer network specialist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Rhode Island is the best state in the country for computer network specialist jobs.
In order to get you the best states for computer network specialists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.Rhode Island is the best state, and Morgantown is the city with the highest pay for computer network specialists.
10 best states for computer network specialists in 2025
1. Rhode Island
Total computer network specialist jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $68,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
2. West Virginia
Total computer network specialist jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $72,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
3. Idaho
Total computer network specialist jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $68,156 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1
4. Utah
Total computer network specialist jobs: 669 Average annual salary: $62,827 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.39
5. Massachusetts
Total computer network specialist jobs: 1,304 Average annual salary: $68,843 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
6. Delaware
Total computer network specialist jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $66,031 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Ohio
Total computer network specialist jobs: 1,261 Average annual salary: $70,461 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
8. Nevada
Total computer network specialist jobs: 369 Average annual salary: $62,260 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
9. Oregon
Total computer network specialist jobs: 730 Average annual salary: $64,473 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. New Jersey
Total computer network specialist jobs: 1,028 Average annual salary: $68,874 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Computer network specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer network specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer network specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $68,511 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 221 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $72,033 | $50,000 | 1,815,857 | 210 |
| 3 | Idaho | $68,156 | $48,000 | 1,716,943 | 247 |
| 4 | Utah | $62,827 | $43,000 | 3,101,833 | 669 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $68,843 | $50,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,304 |
| 6 | Delaware | $66,031 | $46,000 | 961,939 | 214 |
| 7 | Ohio | $70,461 | $49,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,261 |
| 8 | Nevada | $62,260 | $42,000 | 2,998,039 | 369 |
| 9 | Oregon | $64,473 | $46,000 | 4,142,776 | 730 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,874 | $49,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,028 |
| 11 | California | $69,696 | $47,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,309 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $62,249 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 306 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $63,470 | $45,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,560 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $61,525 | $44,000 | 1,920,076 | 363 |
| 15 | Virginia | $61,938 | $43,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,463 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $66,823 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 254 |
| 17 | Michigan | $63,677 | $45,000 | 9,962,311 | 940 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $64,021 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 443 |
| 19 | Texas | $59,927 | $42,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,000 |
| 20 | Maryland | $61,028 | $43,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,775 |
| 21 | New York | $64,096 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,785 |
| 22 | Florida | $59,639 | $41,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,378 |
| 23 | Georgia | $61,164 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,326 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $55,119 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 118 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $57,081 | $40,000 | 693,972 | 597 |
| 26 | Alaska | $54,425 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 243 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $57,753 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 579 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $55,458 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 344 |
| 29 | Alabama | $55,148 | $39,000 | 4,874,747 | 625 |
| 30 | Washington | $60,225 | $44,000 | 7,405,743 | 960 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $57,964 | $41,000 | 5,795,483 | 682 |
| 32 | Arizona | $55,180 | $38,000 | 7,016,270 | 991 |
| 33 | Iowa | $53,968 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 534 |
| 34 | Vermont | $52,716 | $39,000 | 623,657 | 187 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $51,706 | $38,000 | 869,666 | 176 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $54,998 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 412 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,114 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 675 |
| 38 | Illinois | $55,976 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,523 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $53,016 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 290 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $54,459 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 883 |
| 41 | Indiana | $53,096 | $37,000 | 6,666,818 | 824 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $51,554 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,471 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $47,965 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 184 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,931 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,097 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $52,546 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 304 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $53,024 | $37,000 | 4,684,333 | 383 |
| 47 | Montana | $47,545 | $35,000 | 1,050,493 | 200 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $51,213 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 395 |
| 49 | Kansas | $50,867 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 389 |
| 50 | Maine | $47,619 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 172 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $48,638 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 644 |
Highest paying states for computer network specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Network Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $68,511 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $72,033 |
| 3 | Idaho | $68,156 |
| 4 | Utah | $62,827 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $68,843 |
| 6 | Delaware | $66,031 |
| 7 | Ohio | $70,461 |
| 8 | Nevada | $62,260 |
| 9 | Oregon | $64,473 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,874 |
| 11 | California | $69,696 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $62,249 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $63,470 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $61,525 |
| 15 | Virginia | $61,938 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $66,823 |
| 17 | Michigan | $63,677 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $64,021 |
| 19 | Texas | $59,927 |
| 20 | Maryland | $61,028 |
| 21 | New York | $64,096 |
| 22 | Florida | $59,639 |
| 23 | Georgia | $61,164 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $55,119 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $57,081 |
| 26 | Alaska | $54,425 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $57,753 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $55,458 |
| 29 | Alabama | $55,148 |
| 30 | Washington | $60,225 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $57,964 |
| 32 | Arizona | $55,180 |
| 33 | Iowa | $53,968 |
| 34 | Vermont | $52,716 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $51,706 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $54,998 |
| 37 | Missouri | $56,114 |
| 38 | Illinois | $55,976 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $53,016 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $54,459 |
| 41 | Indiana | $53,096 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $51,554 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $47,965 |
| 44 | Colorado | $49,931 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $52,546 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $53,024 |
| 47 | Montana | $47,545 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $51,213 |
| 49 | Kansas | $50,867 |
| 50 | Maine | $47,619 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $48,638 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer network specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer network specialists to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
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Updated January 8, 2025