AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 15-1241.00

Will AI replace Computer Network Architects?

Computer Network Architects: AI can already handle 4 of 33 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 33 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Computer Network Architects, from most to least exposed. 4 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Evaluate network designs to determine whether customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively. 65 Estimated Standard 3.7
Estimate time and materials needed to complete projects. 65 Observed Standard 3.4
Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes. 60 Estimated Frontier 4.3
Prepare detailed network specifications, including diagrams, charts, equipment configurations, or recommended technologies. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Adjust network sizes to meet volume or capacity demands. 55 Estimated Efficient 3.8
Communicate with vendors to gather information about products, alert them to future needs, resolve problems, or address system maintenance issues. 55 Estimated Efficient 3.7
Communicate with customers, sales staff, or marketing staff to determine customer needs. 55 Estimated Standard 3.6
Determine specific network hardware or software requirements, such as platforms, interfaces, bandwidths, or routine schemas. 55 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Research and test new or modified hardware or software products to determine performance and interoperability. 55 Estimated Efficient 3.5
Prepare or monitor project schedules, budgets, or cost control systems. 55 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Develop disaster recovery plans. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.4
Develop and implement solutions for network problems. 50 Estimated Standard 4.2
Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades. 50 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Coordinate installation of new equipment. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.9
Develop network-related documentation. 50 Estimated Efficient 3.9
Develop and write procedures for installation, use, or troubleshooting of communications hardware or software. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Design, build, or operate equipment configuration prototypes, including network hardware, software, servers, or server operation systems. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.8
Develop conceptual, logical, or physical network designs. 50 Estimated Standard 3.8
Develop plans or budgets for network equipment replacement. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.7
Supervise engineers or other staff in the design or implementation of network solutions. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Design, organize, and deliver product awareness, skills transfer, or product education sessions for staff or suppliers. 50 Estimated Standard 3.4
Explain design specifications to integration or test engineers. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.3
Develop procedures to track, project, or report network availability, reliability, capacity, or utilization. 50 Estimated Standard 3.3
Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Prepare design presentations and proposals for staff or customers. 50 Estimated Efficient 3.1
Use network computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to optimize network designs. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.1
Develop or maintain project reporting systems. 50 Estimated Frontier 2.7
Maintain or coordinate the maintenance of network peripherals, such as printers. 50 Estimated Efficient 2.6
Visit vendors, attend conferences or training sessions, or study technical journals to keep up with changes in technology. 35 Estimated Efficient 2.8
Maintain networks by performing activities such as file addition, deletion, or backup. 20 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing. 20 Estimated Standard 3.8
Communicate with system users to ensure accounts are set up properly or to diagnose and solve operational problems. 10 Estimated No tier 3.8

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 1 of 33 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 32 of 33. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 97% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 97% of the work is something AI can address at some tier, and 3% is hands-on.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
179,740
Median annual wage
$134,050
Middle half of earners
$104,620 to $168,200
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+11.9%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Computer Network Architects and AI

Will AI replace Computer Network Architects?

AI already handles 4 of the 33 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 49 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +11.9% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Computer Network Architects?

49 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 1 of the 33 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 32 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Computer Network Architects tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Evaluate network designs to determine whether customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively; Estimate time and materials needed to complete projects; Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes. They are three of the 4 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 97% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Computer Network Architects, and what do they earn?

179,740 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $134,050 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +11.9% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Computer Network Architects. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/computer-network-architects

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