GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Computer Network Architects
Best States to Be a Computer Network Architects
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a computer network architects salary goes furthest in South Dakota — a $153,390 BLS median worth $173,154 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 138.3).
Which US states are best for a computer network architects after cost of living and tax?
For a computer network architects, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks South Dakota #1: a $153,390 BLS median becomes $173,154 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 138.3). Hawaii ranks last ($92,152, index 73.6). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
South Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a computer network architects. Index 100 = the average state; 138.3 means pay goes 38.3% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedComputer Network Architects — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $153,390 | — | 88.6 | $173,154 | 138.3 |
| 2 | Washington | $168,070 | — | 107.0 | $157,056 | 125.5 |
| 3 | Maryland | $159,460 | $7,456 | 105.0 | $144,822 | 115.7 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $162,350 | $8,152 | 108.8 | $141,720 | 113.2 |
| 5 | Delaware | $148,390 | $8,453 | 99.8 | $140,206 | 112.0 |
| 6 | Alabama | $130,810 | $6,276 | 88.8 | $140,205 | 112.0 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $155,060 | $7,533 | 105.8 | $139,496 | 111.5 |
| 8 | Nevada | $138,060 | — | 100.0 | $138,089 | 110.3 |
| 9 | Ohio | $131,070 | $3,037 | 92.8 | $138,005 | 110.3 |
| 10 | Texas | $133,310 | — | 97.1 | $137,352 | 109.7 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $134,990 | $6,762 | 93.7 | $136,778 | 109.3 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $123,860 | — | 91.9 | $134,821 | 107.7 |
| 13 | California | $158,870 | $10,653 | 110.7 | $133,866 | 107.0 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $131,720 | $5,829 | 94.1 | $133,791 | 106.9 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $143,890 | $6,483 | 103.6 | $132,619 | 106.0 |
| 16 | Virginia | $141,340 | $7,327 | 101.1 | $132,549 | 105.9 |
| 17 | Georgia | $133,890 | $6,570 | 96.3 | $132,222 | 105.6 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $122,520 | $4,971 | 89.5 | $131,345 | 104.9 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $131,840 | $4,047 | 97.6 | $130,973 | 104.6 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $127,320 | $4,869 | 94.3 | $129,817 | 103.7 |
| 21 | Colorado | $139,230 | $5,466 | 103.1 | $129,802 | 103.7 |
| 22 | Indiana | $124,190 | $3,696 | 93.3 | $129,107 | 103.1 |
| 23 | Florida | $132,800 | — | 103.4 | $128,416 | 102.6 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $133,270 | $7,692 | 98.6 | $127,333 | 101.7 |
| 25 | Arizona | $130,890 | $2,797 | 100.7 | $127,231 | 101.7 |
| 26 | Illinois | $132,790 | $6,432 | 100.0 | $126,411 | 101.0 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $131,320 | $4,679 | 102.3 | $123,818 | 98.9 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $116,420 | $4,958 | 90.1 | $123,705 | 98.8 |
| 29 | New York | $140,390 | $7,375 | 107.9 | $123,252 | 98.5 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $110,400 | $4,097 | 86.9 | $122,276 | 97.7 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $108,990 | $888 | 89.0 | $121,519 | 97.1 |
| 32 | Oregon | $135,660 | $11,157 | 103.4 | $120,455 | 96.2 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $125,420 | — | 104.2 | $120,405 | 96.2 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $109,450 | $4,661 | 87.8 | $119,291 | 95.3 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $106,620 | $2,824 | 88.2 | $117,674 | 94.0 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $137,670 | $8,827 | 109.9 | $117,236 | 93.7 |
| 37 | Alaska | $119,720 | — | 102.4 | $116,961 | 93.4 |
| 38 | Utah | $121,000 | $5,506 | 98.9 | $116,822 | 93.3 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $109,080 | $4,068 | 92.2 | $113,881 | 91.0 |
| 40 | Iowa | $103,050 | $3,876 | 87.8 | $113,003 | 90.3 |
| 41 | Michigan | $112,040 | $4,515 | 96.2 | $111,752 | 89.3 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $103,740 | $4,019 | 90.2 | $110,606 | 88.4 |
| 43 | Missouri | $103,130 | $3,966 | 90.8 | $109,191 | 87.2 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $100,520 | — | 92.7 | $108,446 | 86.6 |
| 45 | Vermont | $110,930 | $4,940 | 98.0 | $108,200 | 86.4 |
| 46 | Idaho | $107,620 | $5,009 | 95.5 | $107,453 | 85.8 |
| 47 | Kansas | $100,610 | $4,814 | 90.1 | $106,359 | 85.0 |
| 48 | Maine | $108,570 | $5,814 | 97.0 | $105,880 | 84.6 |
| 49 | Montana | $104,300 | $5,016 | 94.6 | $104,902 | 83.8 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $90,990 | $3,198 | 87.0 | $100,964 | 80.7 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $108,000 | $6,678 | 110.0 | $92,152 | 73.6 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In South Dakota, a $153,390 salary is worth about $173,154 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $153,390 · BEA cost of living 88.6 (US = 100).
That makes South Dakota the state where this salary goes furthest.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $173,154 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $169,557 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $168,681 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $168,644 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $168,138 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $168,117 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $166,964 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $166,324 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $165,485 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $164,057 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $163,327 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $163,130 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Computer Network Architects — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a computer network architects?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, South Dakota is the best state for a computer network architects: a BLS median of $153,390 is worth $173,154 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.6), an index of 138.3 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Washington has the highest headline BLS median for a computer network architects at $168,070, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 51 on real pay (index 125.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a computer network architects salary go least far?
- Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a computer network architects: a $108,000 BLS median is worth only $92,152 after tax and cost of living (index 73.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a computer network architects is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.