Salary data is based on the Billings, MT metropolitan area and applied to Billings using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Computer Network Architects Salaries in Billings, MT

Average Base Pay

$117,454/yr

7% below national average

Monthly

$9,788

Hourly

$56

Cost Index

Computer Network Architects in Billings, MT earn an average of $117,454 per year, with most salaries falling between $93,963 and $140,945 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 7% below the national average, Billings offers a more modest rate for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 85. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Billings.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$88K
Low

$117K
Median

$147K
High

25th percentile: $100K75th percentile: $135K

About Computer Network Architects

Network Engineers design, implement, and maintain the computer networks that organizations depend on for communication, data transfer, and application delivery. This includes local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), data center networks, and increasingly, software-defined networking (SDN) and cloud networking environments. The role involves configuring routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and VPN gateways, as well as troubleshooting connectivity issues that can impact productivity across an entire organization. Network engineers work closely with security teams to segment networks, enforce access control policies, and monitor for unusual traffic patterns. In large enterprises, they manage bandwidth allocation, QoS policies, and redundancy configurations to ensure high availability. Cloud networking is an expanding area—configuring VPCs, transit gateways, and private connectivity between on-premise and cloud environments. Documentation of network topology is an important ongoing responsibility. Network engineers must hold deep knowledge of networking protocols including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, TCP/IP, and DNS, and often pursue certifications such as Cisco CCNP or CCNA.

What Computer Network Architects Do

Design, configure, and maintain LAN, WAN, and data center network infrastructure
Troubleshoot network connectivity, performance, and latency issues
Configure and manage routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers
Implement network segmentation and access control policies
Monitor network performance and respond to outages
Plan and execute network upgrades and migrations
Collaborate with security teams on firewall rules and intrusion detection
Maintain accurate network topology documentation

Key Skills & Qualifications

Deep knowledge of TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, and VLANs
Configuration experience with Cisco, Juniper, or Palo Alto equipment
Firewall management and VPN configuration
Network monitoring tools such as SolarWinds, PRTG, or Nagios
Cloud networking (AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network, GCP networking)
Software-defined networking and network automation with Ansible or Python
Relevant certifications such as CCNP or CompTIA Network+
Strong analytical and systematic troubleshooting skills

Career Path

IT Support / Help Desk
Network Technician
Network Engineer
Senior Network Engineer
Network Architect / Director of IT Infrastructure

Computer Network Architects Market in Billings, MT

Salary Competitiveness

Billings currently pays 7% below the national median for Computer Network Architects. This gap can reflect a lower regional cost base, thinner employer density, or a surplus of qualified candidates relative to open roles—factors worth factoring into any offer negotiation or relocation calculation.

Cost of Living Impact

Billings's cost of living runs below the national average, which works in favor of this salary. Essential monthly expenses account for approximately 32% of take-home pay—a ratio that leaves meaningful room for savings, debt reduction, and discretionary spending compared with higher-cost metros.

Effective Purchasing Power

After adjusting for local taxes and cost of living, a Computer Network Architects earning $117,454 in Billings reaches a strong purchasing-power position. The effective standard of living this income supports is materially higher than the gross number alone implies—a useful data point for professionals comparing offers across metro areas.

vs. National Avg

-7%

Cost Pressure

32%

Purchasing Power

Strong

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$85,741

Monthly

$7,145

Weekly

$1,649

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $117,454 for a Computer Network Architects in Billings translates to roughly $7,145 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,283—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $4,862 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Billings's current market.

How far does this salary go in Billings?

Cost of Living in Billings

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Billings, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,250/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$465/mo

🚗Transportation$125/mo

💡Utilities$155/mo

🏥Healthcare$288/mo

Monthly$2,283

Annual$27,396

Disposable Income$4,862

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Billings to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$7,145

Living Costs

$2,283

Disposable

$4,862

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Comfortable

With a monthly take-home of $7,145, your estimated living costs in Billings are $2,283 ($27,396/yr). This leaves $4,862 per month in disposable income, indicating a comfortable standard of living. Billings's cost of living is 15% below the national average.

Overall, a Computer Network Architects earning $117,454 in Billings falls into a comfortable lifestyle tier and has meaningful room to save, invest, and absorb unexpected expenses without financial stress. With a cost index of 85, Billings is 15% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Billings continue to evolve.