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Computer Networking Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Computer Network Architect

Laurel, MD ยท On-site

$116.35K - $210.33K/yr

... Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), SIGINT, Mission Software, and ... Evaluating and integrating emerging networking technologies * Collaborating with cross-functional ...

Computer Network Architect

Odenton, MD ยท On-site

$92.30K - $166.85K/yr

Must have broad exposure to common I/T infrastructure networking in the areas of LAN, WAN, TCP/UDP, IPSec, VPN, Proxies, Routing(L2/L3), and Firewalls. * Must have experience in working with two or ...

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Computer Networking information

See Washington, DC salary details

$20

$32

$67

How much do computer networking jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for computer networking in Washington, DC is $32.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.23 and $35.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are the Qualifications to Get a Job in Computer Networking?

The primary qualifications for a computer networking job are a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and several years of experience as a network administrator. Employers tend to prefer applicants who have a master's degree and intermediate- to expert-level skills with firewall and server configuration. Fulfilling the duties of a computer networking job requires familiarity with a wide range of network hardware and software, excellent technical problem-solving skills, and an understanding of network traffic analysis techniques. Some computer networking jobs work with sensitive material, so employers may ask you to obtain a federal security clearance. Pursuing additional education or certifications, such as an electrical engineering degree, may help you gain a competitive advantage or advance in this career.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Computer Networking professional, and why are they important?

To thrive in Computer Networking, you need a solid understanding of network protocols, troubleshooting, and infrastructure, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Cisco routers and switches, network monitoring software, and certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA is highly valued. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help professionals excel in diagnosing issues and collaborating with team members. These skills are crucial to ensure reliable, secure, and efficient network operations that support organizational needs.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in computer networking roles, and how can they be addressed?

Computer networking professionals often encounter challenges such as troubleshooting complex connectivity issues, keeping up with rapidly evolving technologies, and ensuring network security against emerging threats. These challenges can be addressed by developing strong problem-solving skills, staying current with industry certifications and ongoing training, and collaborating closely with IT security and support teams. Regularly participating in knowledge-sharing sessions within the organization can also help professionals stay informed about best practices and new tools.

What is computer networking?

Computer networking refers to the practice of connecting computers and other devices together so they can communicate and share resources, such as files, printers, and internet access. This can involve local networks within a single building (LANs) or larger networks that span cities or even countries (WANs). Networking relies on hardware like routers and switches, as well as software protocols that ensure reliable communication and data transfer. It is essential for businesses, organizations, and individuals to facilitate collaboration, access information, and use shared services efficiently.

Is computer network a good career?

A career in computer networking involves designing, implementing, and managing network systems, which are essential for organizations' communication and data transfer. It offers opportunities for growth with certifications like Cisco's CCNA and requires technical skills in hardware, protocols, and security. The field is generally stable with demand for network administrators, engineers, and security specialists.

Will AI replace computer networking?

Computer networking professionals design, implement, and maintain network systems, and AI is expected to augment rather than replace these roles. AI tools can automate routine tasks and improve network security, but human expertise remains essential for complex troubleshooting, configuration, and strategic planning. Skills in network protocols, security, and certifications like Cisco or CompTIA are valuable in this evolving environment.

What is the difference between Computer Networking vs Network Administration?

AspectComputer NetworkingNetwork Administration
CertificationsCCNA, CompTIA Network+CCNA, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentDesigning, implementing, and troubleshooting networksManaging and maintaining existing networks
Job FocusNetwork infrastructure setup and optimizationNetwork monitoring, user support, and issue resolution
Industry UsageIT and telecommunications companiesOrganizations with large IT networks

Computer Networking involves designing and implementing network systems, while Network Administration focuses on managing and maintaining those networks. Both roles require similar certifications and often overlap, but networking emphasizes setup and architecture, whereas administration centers on ongoing support and troubleshooting.

What are the most commonly searched types of Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC? For Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Computer Networking jobs in Washington, DC are:
Infographic showing various Computer Networking job openings in Washington, DC as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,930 per year, or $32.2 per hour.
Computer Engineer (Cybersecurity)

Computer Engineer (Cybersecurity)

Bureau of Industry and Security

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site, Remote

$102.42K - $158.32K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Summary
This vacancy is to fill two Computer Engineer (Cybersecurity) positions that will serve as technical experts in a wide range of technology and services in one or more of the following areas: telecommunications (including optical, wireless and wireline networking), advanced computers, computer science, software development, computer networking, information security, cybersecurity, encryption, mobile networking, satellite communication, networking infrastructure, or internet connected devices.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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As a Computer Engineer (Cybersecurity), you will perform the following duties:
  • Conducts studies of telecommunications, computer engineering and science, information security and cybersecurity, and related technical data in terms of their potential for technology vulnerabilities and evaluates technical data to identify effective mitigation techniques and strategies.
  • Prepares and contributes to technical analysis papers, agency position papers, reports, and briefing materials for escalation to interagency committees and to support interagency coordination and decision-making. Provides information and analysis of investigative cases to interagency parties.
  • Develops, revises, and writes technical portions of agency guidelines that affect industries and other government agencies.
  • Recommends appropriate integration of U.S. industry's economic/regulatory concerns into the Department's regulations.
  • Represents the Office at interagency meetings and participates in advisory meetings, outreach activities, and discussions with government and industry experts to resolve issues and develop proposals regarding the inclusion or exclusion of specific technologies and services within the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Computer Engineer (Cybersecurity) GS-0854-12/13, full performance level, GS-13, positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • This position requires a TOP SECRET/SCI CLEARANCE: you must be able to obtain and maintain the required clearance.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
  • A probationary period may be required.
  • Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: No
  • Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes
  • Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: will not be paid
  • License required: No
  • Drug Test Required: This position is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.

Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENT- EDUCATION
A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive).
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
To qualify at the GS-13 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal Service or its non-Federal equivalent performing the following:
  • Conducting independent and complex technical evaluations across at least two of the following: telecommunications systems, computer engineering technologies, cybersecurity systems, information security technologies, or related ICT/ICTS technologies, involving assessment of technical specifications, system architecture, and operational characteristics to identify vulnerabilities, risk exposure, and mitigation approaches in support of regulatory or national security determinations; and
  • Integrating and synthesizing technical findings from multiple sources (e.g., engineering documentation, regulatory submissions, industry data) to support higher-level regulatory or interagency decision-making; and
  • Developing formal written technical analyses, recommendations, or position papers and communicating findings to internal leadership, interagency partners, or external stakeholders to support policy or regulatory outcomes.

To qualify at the GS-12 level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal Service or its non-Federal equivalent performing the following:
  • Conducting technical evaluations in at least one of the following: telecommunications systems, computer engineering technologies, cybersecurity systems, information security technologies, or related ICT/ICTS technologies, including reviewing technical specifications and system characteristics to identify potential vulnerabilities, risks, and mitigation approaches in support of regulatory or national security determinations; and
  • Reviewing technical documentation, engineering data, or regulatory materials to support analytical or compliance determinations; and
  • Preparing written technical summaries or findings and communicating results to internal stakeholders or technical reviewers in support of established program or regulatory requirements.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series
Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
There is a positive education requirement for this position as described above. See the Qualifications Section, above.
NOTE:
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
Additional information
The following links provide information on various hiring authorities that do not fall under competitive examining procedures; however, they may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.
  1. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  2. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Reasonable Accommodations (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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