How to Become a Computer Network Architect in Colorado: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median computer network architect salary in Colorado is $139,230 per year - 4% above the national median of $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in computer science, IT, or network engineering.
How to Become a Computer Network Architect in Colorado
1. Build network-side experience
Tower, fiber, structured cabling, or datacenter tech work is the physical-layer foundation.
2. Earn the bachelor’s degree
Computer science, IT, or network engineering - online programs are standard in this field.
3. Stack routing certifications
CCNA then CCNP; cloud networking (AWS/Azure) certs increasingly matter as much.
4. Move up through network engineering
NOC and network engineer roles are the bridge to architect titles.
5. Advance
Senior/principal architect, datacenter network design, or infrastructure leadership.
Requirements in Colorado
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in computer science, IT, or network engineering. There is no occupational license for network architects in most states, including Colorado. Cisco (CCNP/CCIE) and cloud certifications carry heavy weight. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications before you enroll, as details change.
Computer Network Architect Salary in Colorado
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado entry level (10th percentile) | $94,920 |
| Colorado 25th-75th percentile | $123,640 - $168,880 |
| Colorado median | $139,230 |
| Colorado top earners (90th percentile) | $206,600 |
| U.S. median | $134,050 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 16,380.
The Colorado Job Market: Computer Network Architect
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Colorado | 16,380 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 5.70 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 4.93 |
| Mean annual wage in Colorado | $146,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 4.93, Colorado employs network architects at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,900 |
| 25th | $104,620 |
| 50th (median) | $134,050 |
| 75th | $168,200 |
| 90th | $202,680 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 179,200 |
| 2034 projected | 200,600 |
| Percent change | +11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a computer network architect make in Colorado?
The median annual wage for computer network architects in Colorado is $139,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% above the national median of $134,050.
How to become a computer network architect in Colorado?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in computer science, IT, or network engineering. There is no occupational license for network architects in most states, including Colorado. Cisco (CCNP/CCIE) and cloud certifications carry heavy weight. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications. See the steps on this page.
How many network architects work in Colorado?
BLS counts about 16,380 computer network architects employed in Colorado (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Computer Network Architect in Nearby States
- Computer Network Architect in Arkansas
- Computer Network Architect in California
- Computer Network Architect in Connecticut
- Computer Network Architect in Delaware
Related
- How to Become a Computer Network Architect (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1241), Colorado and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |