Computer network and web technicians
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Computer network technicians operate, maintain and co-ordinate the use of local and wide area networks, datacentre networks, hardware, software and related computer equipment. They work for information technology (IT) companies and departments in the private and public sectors.
People in this job need to have a good understanding of computer hardware and software. They should be able to go with the flow, be creative, and be good at solving problems. Communication and good personal skills are important—network technicians have to be able to explain technical problems and work well with other IT professionals (such as programmers), staff and customers.
Supervisors of computer network technicians are included in this group.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, computer network technicians:
- Maintain and troubleshoot local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs), datacentre networks, web servers, computer workstations, as well as connections to the internet and equipment such as printers, monitors or keyboards
- Test and install networking and operating system software, software applications and hardware
- Co-ordinate access to and use of computer networks for employees
- Fix problems that users are having with the network or their computer
- Put network traffic and security monitoring software in place
- Carry out routine network start-up and close-down and keep control records
- Back up data
- Run disaster recovery operations
- Run tests and security and quality control tasks
- Manage email use among employees and how they use the software installed on their work computers
- Perform shell scripting or other basic scripting tasks
- Set up and maintain internet and intranet websites and web server hardware and software
- Monitor network connectivity and performance
- Work with management to make sure that network systems and software are working properly
- May supervise others
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
7,085% Employed Full Time
78%Computer network technicians usually work 40 hours per week. If computer support is needed outside of office hours, such as when a large-scale maintenance project means that the system is down, they may work evenings, weekends or be on call. When problems come up, computer network technicians may need to work overtime.
The internet has changed this career somewhat. While some computer network technicians work in offices, people in this career can also provide remote support from a home office. People who work for companies that provide services on contract may spend part of their day travelling to clients' offices.
People in this job spend many hours sitting at a desk, working on a computer. This can cause eye, wrist, back or neck strain. It’s important to use a chair that allows good posture and to have a workstation setup that lowers joint pain caused by typing or using a mouse.
Career Pathways
Typically, recent graduates with a diploma can go straight into a job as a computer network technician. Others may start out working on a help desk, in computer and network operations, or in other support roles before moving into this career.
With more education and experience, computer network technicians may become supervisors or move into managerial roles, such as leading the IT department. They can go on to more senior roles, such as:
- Network administrator
- Senior systems administrator
- Server administrator
They can also move into other fields such as computer programming, interactive media development, web development or systems analysis.
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
A diploma or certificate in network or system administration, technology support or a related field is required for a career in this field.
The following may be required:
- Certificate of training for some types of software
- Training or certification in advanced cloud computing
- Training or certification in network security training
Certification is not required, but it may help to improve job opportunities.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
7,085Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 240 | 3.4% |
| Kootenay | 110 | 1.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 4,905 | 69.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 75 | 1.1% |
| Northeast | 55 | 0.8% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 555 | 7.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,135 | 16.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
4,300Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 1.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,110 | 2.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 100 | 4.9% |
| Northeast | 20 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 320 | 1.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 600 | 1.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 2,300 |
| Educational Services | 330 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 290 |
| Public Administration | 260 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 240 |
Insights from Industry
Most employers use information technologies—and they need computer network technicians to manage, upgrade and customize their complex computer systems. It is expected there will be openings for this job in many industries and these will increase in the future.
The following may increase the demand for computer network technicians:
- Larger networks, such as those for wireless and broadband internet
- The growing use of virtualization
- Businesses buying and selling products online (e-commerce)
- Wireless and converged networks* are becoming more common, so most companies will need someone who can set them up, monitor and service them
* The combination of telephone, video and data communication provided by one company.
Computer network technicians may have a better chance of finding work if they have advanced training or certification in these growing specialities:
- Network security to help businesses and governments protect their computer systems and data
- Online security and cloud computing
Network technology changes quickly and this means that recent graduates and those who regularly upgrade their skills may have an easier time finding jobs. Having one or more vendor certifications—when a person is trained and certified by a specific software company—may also help.
Resources
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BC Tech Associationwww.wearebctech.com
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Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) of British Columbiabc.cips.ca
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Information and Communications Technology Councilwww.ictc-ctic.ca
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Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC)www.viatec.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a computer network technician is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a computer network technician is like.
