Computer Network Support Specialists build judgment and decision making, complex problem solving and troubleshooting skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 72% | $78,190 | +3% | None |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 69% | $74,090 | −3% | None |
| 3 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 69% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
| 4 | Photonics Technicians | 68% | $78,350Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 67% | $161,740 | +112% | None |
| 6 | Avionics Technicians | 66% | $82,280 | +8% | None |
| 7 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | 66% | $63,890 | −16% | None |
| 8 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 65% | $82,890 | +9% | None |
| 9 | Robotics Engineers | 64% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | 64% | $73,900 | −3% | None |
Compared with Computer Network Support Specialists, median $76,220. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as computer network support specialists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
72% skill match · $78,190 · +3% pay
Operation and Control · Repairing · Troubleshooting
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
69% skill match · $74,090 · −3% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Operation and Control
69% skill match · $130,220 (broader BLS group)
Operations Analysis · Persuasion · Management of Personnel Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72% skill match, median $78,190), Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (69% skill match, median $74,090) and Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (69% skill match, median $130,220), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 7 pay more than computer network support specialists at the median. The biggest increases: Computer Hardware Engineers (+112%, $161,740), Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (+71%, $130,220) and Electrical Engineers (+58%, $120,630).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.