Quick answer: California employs about 14,870 computer network architects (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Licensing and Credentials in California
Information technology is not licensed. Certification carries the weight employers screen on, from CompTIA at the foundational tier through vendor tracks and (ISC)2 CISSP on the security side. The degree supplies the architecture and systems grounding that certification alone does not.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 80 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
What Computer Network Architects Earn in California
Computer Network Architects in California earn a median $158,870 per year, above the national median of $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Information Technology Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$158,870
$134,050
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$97,070
$79,900
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$127,610
$104,620
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$197,100
$168,200
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$224,930
$202,680
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
14,870
179,740
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.71
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
11.9%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $158,870 sits above the national median of $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.71 puts California below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Network and systems roles cluster around technology, finance and healthcare employers, and the field supports remote work heavily, so local counts understate the reachable market.
Computer Network Architects Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), computer network architects wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
3,500
$147,510
$149,930
$90,880
$212,130
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
3,350
$166,760
$172,850
$121,160
$242,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
2,730
$186,110
$192,650
$129,340
$274,500
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
1,490
$157,700
$151,900
$86,240
$212,050
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
580
$141,350
$143,320
$79,140
$201,590
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
400
$128,110
$131,720
$74,630
$181,170
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
180
$137,350
$143,110
$82,340
$200,140
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
150
$118,340
$109,110
$60,830
$161,650
Fresno
130
$98,680
$106,220
$66,780
$164,890
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
130
$128,990
$141,770
$99,280
$197,050
Bakersfield-Delano
100
$122,910
$130,810
$75,260
$199,200
Modesto
70
$120,870
$115,830
$67,020
$179,670
Stockton-Lodi
70
$124,510
$128,390
$89,290
$172,070
Vallejo
70
$108,290
$125,800
$75,370
$179,980
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
50
$129,530
$125,430
$77,440
$182,050
Salinas
40
$132,480
$131,940
$71,480
$214,260
Visalia
30
$117,610
$112,530
$61,120
$160,600
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do computer network architects make in California?
The median annual wage for computer network architects in California is $158,870, above the national median of $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $127,610 at the 25th percentile to $197,100 at the 75th.
How many computer network architects work in California?
California holds about 14,870 network architect jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 179,740, and BLS projects about 11,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a network architect in California?
Information technology is not licensed. Certification carries the weight employers screen on, from CompTIA at the foundational tier through vendor tracks and (ISC)2 CISSP on the security side. The degree supplies the architecture and systems grounding that certification alone does not. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a bachelor's in information technology or computer science online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies the certifying bodies and employers you are targeting.
What is the highest-paying area of California for computer network architects?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $186,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for computer network architects?
On pay, the state median of $158,870 sits above the national $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.71 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
