Computer Network Architects Salary
Computer Network Architects in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $144,990 a year, or about $69.71 an hour. The range runs from $104K at the entry level to $185K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $148,601 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $145K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer network architects
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Computer network architects pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $145K locally vs. $134K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,711/month, 19.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer network architects in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $134K | $138K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $121K | $123K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $115K | $123K |
| Winston-Salem | $120K | $130K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level computer network architects (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $145K. Top earners bring in $185K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Network Architects pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Network Architects salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $168K | +25% | 4,730 |
| New Jersey | $162K | +21% | 5,660 |
| Maryland | $159K | +19% | 5,860 |
| California | $159K | +19% | 14,870 |
| Massachusetts | $155K | +16% | 6,270 |
| South Dakota | $153K | +14% | 420 |
| Delaware | $148K | +11% | 760 |
| Connecticut | $144K | +7% | 1,570 |
| Virginia | $141K | +5% | 9,380 |
| New York | $140K | +5% | 9,800 |
| Colorado | $139K | +4% | 16,380 |
| Nevada | $138K | +3% | 1,010 |
| District of Columbia | $138K | +3% | 1,490 |
| Oregon | $136K | +1% | 1,540 |
| South Carolina | $135K | +1% | 1,950 |
| Georgia | $134K | -0% | 7,690 |
| Texas | $133K | -1% | 13,650 |
| Minnesota | $133K | -1% | 2,040 |
| Florida | $133K | -1% | 9,370 |
| Illinois | $133K | -1% | 7,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $132K | -2% | 6,080 |
| Wisconsin | $132K | -2% | 2,170 |
| Rhode Island | $131K | -2% | 460 |
| Ohio | $131K | -2% | 5,150 |
| Arizona | $131K | -2% | 3,990 |
| Alabama | $131K | -2% | 4,200 |
| North Carolina | $127K | -5% | 8,350 |
| New Hampshire | $125K | -6% | 560 |
| Indiana | $124K | -7% | 2,030 |
| Tennessee | $124K | -8% | 4,330 |
| West Virginia | $123K | -9% | 360 |
| Utah | $121K | -10% | 1,330 |
| Alaska | $120K | -11% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $116K | -13% | 1,350 |
| Michigan | $112K | -16% | 3,210 |
| Vermont | $111K | -17% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $110K | -18% | 910 |
| Oklahoma | $109K | -18% | 1,320 |
| New Mexico | $109K | -19% | 420 |
| North Dakota | $109K | -19% | 230 |
| Maine | $109K | -19% | 570 |
| Hawaii | $108K | -19% | 320 |
| Idaho | $108K | -20% | 720 |
| Louisiana | $107K | -20% | 470 |
| Montana | $104K | -22% | 250 |
| Kentucky | $104K | -23% | 1,710 |
| Missouri | $103K | -23% | 3,360 |
| Iowa | $103K | -23% | 1,170 |
| Kansas | $101K | -25% | 1,770 |
| Wyoming | $101K | -25% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -32% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track computer network architects salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer network architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $145K, rent takes 19.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer network architects in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer network architects typically earn — is $104K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,259/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is computer network architect a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $145K locally vs. $134K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for computer network architects?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $145K median vs. the U.S. average of $134K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer network architects make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $144,990 a year, that works out to about $70 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,310, and experienced computer network architects can clear $184,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $145K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,611/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 19.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer network architects salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer network architects salary is worth about $148,601 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer network architects get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.