Computer Network Specialist Job Description
From small offices and businesses to large corporations and government agencies, people are connected to each other through their computers. These type of connections, called computer networks, are established--or at least maintained--by a computer network specialist or technician. Due to the nature of the job, a computer network specialist is among those professionals specializing in information technology, or IT.
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Main Duties
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Although in some cases, computer network specialists set up and connect the computers in a workplace, they more commonly administer computer networks that are already established. They are not only responsible for overseeing the local area network, or LAN (used within the organization), but also the wide area network, or WAN (used to connect to computers outside the organization). Computer network specialists make sure that the networks are secure and operate properly, determine the levels of user accessibility according to their employers' specifications, and troubleshoot problems or conflicts should they arise.
Workplaces
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Since computer network technicians can be found anywhere that uses a computer network or networks via communication tools such as the Internet, email and data sharing, their typical workplace is varied in terms of size and type. It includes schools, hospitals, department stores, government and corporate buildings, laboratories, or anywhere that uses a substantial number of computers.
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Education
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In terms of education, a bachelor's degree in fields such as computer science, information systems or electrical engineering is sufficient. Technology corporations such as Microsoft, Novell, HP and Cisco Systems offer certification specifically for their network products.
Salary and Job Forecast
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average computer network specialist made $71,000 in 2009. Counting them among the 961,000 computer network, systems and database administrators in the country in 2008, the BLS estimates that there will be a 30 percent increase in employment between then and 2018.
Significance
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With ever-advancing technology, computer networks will only continue to be more important in our lives in terms of connecting people and facilitating communication. Thus, computer network specialists will continue to be essential to the workforce as a whole.
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References
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