Salaries of Network Technicians

Computer network maintenance can be a monumental task. With so much of today's business world run by computers, a network outage can bring an entire company to a grinding halt. There are new innovations in computer technology every day. It seems, however, that for every advancement in network technology, there are just as many achievements in exploiting any and every security weakness a network may have. This almost nonstop assault means that part of a computer network technician's job is to keep up with continuing research and self-education. However, one of the many bonuses to working in such a fast-changing field is that experience is your best educator; the salaries of network technicians often increase with newly-acquired skills, and many of those skills can be learned on the job. Before taking on the immense responsibility of keeping a computer network running smoothly, dig deep into survey data on median salaries for computer technicians, as well as the computer technician salary range for your area and level of expertise.

Computer Technician Salary Range

Network administration doesn't necessarily require a college degree, but earning one may give you an advantage. The Computer Technician Salary Range by Degree chart shows that salaries for computer technicians with Bachelor of Science degrees are highest. Salaries of network technicians can also benefit from special certifications. Research Computer Technician Salary Range by Certification to find out how becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer or an A+ Service Technician can increase the salaries of computer technicians. While Silicon Valley may seem like the perfect locale for a computer technician, comparing Salaries of Network Technicians by City reveals that salaries are actually highest in New York and Washington, D.C. But, keep in mind that salaries generally fluctuate based on the cost of living in a given area. A little research shows that the salaries of network technicians are no exception. Use PayScale's Cost of Living Calculator to compare both Cost of Living and Salaries for Computer Technicians in Washington and New York.

In addition to a computer technician salary, benefits are an important part of any compensation package. According to the chart on Most Popular Benefits for Computer Technicians, paid holidays and vacation time are the most highly prized benefits for the majority of technicians, followed by paid sick leave and a 401(k). Check out the reports on Average Vacations Weeks for Computer Technicians to see how much vacation time the typical employee can expect to receive.

Computer Technician Career

Researching salaries for computer technicians will only give you one side of the story. To find out more about network technician careers, read "Computer Technician Career" in the Salary Stories blog. Computer technician and tech blogger Mike Petry shares advice and funny stories from his many years as a computer technician.