Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Computer Network Support Specialistss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Computer Network Support Specialistss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Durham-Chapel Hill ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $117,485/year, better purchasing power than Durham-Chapel Hill's higher nominal pay of $114,630. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Durham-Chapel Hill$114,630
#2 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson$104,130
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$98,670

Best purchasing power

#1 Durham-Chapel Hill$117,485
#2 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson$99,655
#3 Fayetteville$91,259

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed computer network support specialistss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Durham-Chapel Hill
18% rent burden
$114,630
$117,485
#2
$104,130
$99,655
#3
Fayetteville
18% rent burden
$83,940
$91,259
#4
Ames
17% rent burden
$80,050
$90,116
#5
Tulsa
18% rent burden
$79,960
$89,631
#6
$98,490
$89,196
#7
Madison
16% rent burden
$85,710
$88,097
#8
$95,710
$87,470
#9
$97,200
$87,465
#10
Winston-Salem
18% rent burden
$79,990
$86,908
#11
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
26% rent burden
$90,070
$86,881
#12
Oklahoma City
19% rent burden
$77,460
$85,676
#13
$98,670
$85,347
#14
$85,010
$84,959
#15
Spokane-Spokane Valley
16% rent burden
$83,370
$83,079
#16
Lexington Park
27% rent burden
$82,990
$82,364
#17
Pittsburgh
20% rent burden
$76,590
$80,902
#18
Trenton-Princeton
28% rent burden
$83,190
$80,626
#19
$85,860
$80,491
#20
$85,730
$80,226
#21
Greensboro-High Point
22% rent burden
$74,090
$79,787
#22
$86,290
$79,699
#23
$86,730
$79,657
#24
Savannah
27% rent burden
$75,780
$79,592
#25
Bismarck
20% rent burden
$72,270
$79,400

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Computer Network Support Specialistss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $114,630 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $95,525 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A computer network support specialists in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Computer Network Support Specialistss?

Madison has one of the lowest rent burdens for Computer Network Support Specialistss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,168/month, with a median salary of $85,710.

Where do Computer Network Support Specialistss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Durham-Chapel Hill pays the highest nominal median salary at $114,630/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Computer Network Support SpecialistssView →How to become a computer network support specialistsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →