Computer Network Support Specialists
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media
- Education and Training
What the work involves
- Analyze network data to determine network usage, disk space availability, or server function.
- Configure and define parameters for installation or testing of local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), hubs, routers, switches, controllers, multiplexers, or related networking equipment.
- Configure security settings or access permissions for groups or individuals.
- Configure wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) routers or related equipment.
- Document network support activities.
- Evaluate local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) performance data to ensure sufficient availability or speed, to identify network problems, or for disaster recovery purposes.
- Identify the causes of networking problems, using diagnostic testing software and equipment.
- Install and configure wireless networking equipment.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Investigative, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (46.9% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (30.7%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (44.7%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Computer Network Support Specialists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | High | Higher on contact with others than 78% of occupations compared | 79% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Moderate | Higher on dealing with the public than 53% of occupations compared | 35% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Teamwork | Very high | Higher on teamwork than 82% of occupations compared | 68% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | High | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 63% of occupations compared | 49% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Moderate | Higher on time pressure than 52% of occupations compared | 40% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 67% of occupations compared | 28% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Moderate | Higher on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 50% of occupations compared | 43% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Consequence of error | High | Higher on consequence of error than 64% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: moderate
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: moderate
- Consequence of error: high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 0%
- Contact with others about half the time: 7.02%
- Contact with others most of the time: 14.41%
- Constant contact with others: 78.57%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 3.18%
- Fairly important: 19.71%
- Important: 34.97%
- Very important: 6.96%
- Extremely important: 35.19%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 0%
- Important: 7%
- Very important: 25.39%
- Extremely important: 67.61%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 2.54%
- Limited freedom: 18.01%
- Some freedom: 30.03%
- A lot of freedom: 49.42%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 4.75%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 27.67%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 40.39%
- Every day: 27.2%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Conflict situations
- Never: 21.9%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 27.75%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 27.14%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 16.86%
- Every day: 6.35%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 6.43%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 35.04%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 42.63%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 6.52%
- Every day: 9.39%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 10.22%
- Fairly serious: 36.09%
- Serious: 2.69%
- Very serious: 16.26%
- Extremely serious: 34.74%
n = 42, Incumbent 07/2014
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O*NET-SOC 15-1231.00 · SOC 15-1231 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8