AI Automation Index

Will AI Replace Computer Network Support Specialists?

Task-level automation exposure for Computer Network Support Specialists: 26 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.

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Developed & audited by Gini Loh

Automation Exposure

59% weighted task index

26 of 26 tasks scored

Median Salary

$76,220 / year

BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation

Employment Level

High

146,190 people hold this job — size, not growth

Projected 2025–35

+1.2% employment change

9,000 openings a year · BLS line item

Pay by state

BLS OEWS publishes 51 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.

$39,570 – $101,750

Highest medians

Washington $101,750

Maryland $96,680

District of Columbia $91,370

Massachusetts $88,650

New Jersey $87,440

Lowest medians

Puerto Rico $39,570

Guam $46,110

West Virginia $46,840

South Dakota $53,650

Virgin Islands $56,360

State figures come from the 15-1231 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.

What the score is made of

Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.

Automation potential 59%

Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.

Physical work 4%

Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.

Judgment & influence 20%

Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.

Routine administration 22%

Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.

Rewritten by O*NET 0%

Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.

Consequence of error 35/100 Moderate

O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.

Constituent Task Mix

26 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.

High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 47%

12 tasks

Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 43%

11 tasks

Low exposure (below 35%) 10%

3 tasks

How would you survive?

Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.

Simulate Upskilling →

Constituent Tasks

#19004 · Core · 75% automatable

Back up network data.

data analysis — Backup configuration largely automatable with oversight

Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.

#18991 · Core · 60% automatable

Configure security settings or access permissions for groups or individuals.

decision support — Security implementation needs human judgment and deployment

Implement security measures for computer or information systems.

#19003 · Core · 70% automatable

Analyze and report computer network security breaches or attempted breaches.

data analysis — Security analysis aided; human validates findings

Analyze security of systems, network, or data.

#18995 · Core · 50% automatable

Identify the causes of networking problems, using diagnostic testing software and equipment.

decision support — Network troubleshooting needs hands-on diagnosis

Resolve computer network problems.

#18993 · Core · 80% automatable

Document network support activities.

text generation — Draft network activity documentation from inputs

Document network-related activities or tasks.

#18992 · Core · 45% automatable

Configure wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) routers or related equipment.

decision support — Network config needs physical setup and verification

Configure computer networks.

#18997 · Core · 55% automatable

Install network software, including security or firewall software.

physical manipulation — Software install often needs hands-on machine access

Install computer software.

#19002 · Core · 55% automatable

Troubleshoot network or connectivity problems for users or user groups.

decision support — AI assists diagnosis; human executes fixes

Resolve computer network problems. Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.

#19010 · Core · 55% automatable

Provide telephone support related to networking or connectivity issues.

decision support — Diagnoses need live system access and hands-on fixes

Provide technical support for computer network issues.

#18994 · Core · 55% automatable

Evaluate local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) performance data to ensure sufficient availability or speed, to identify network problems, or for disaster recovery purposes.

data analysis — AI interprets test output; human executes tests

Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.

#18989 · Core · 78% automatable

Analyze network data to determine network usage, disk space availability, or server function.

data analysis — AI monitors network performance via telemetry

Monitor the performance of computer networks. Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.

#19000 · Core · 22% automatable

Perform routine maintenance or standard repairs to networking components or equipment.

physical manipulation — Physical hardware maintenance and part replacement

Maintain computer hardware.

#18990 · Core · 53% automatable

Configure and define parameters for installation or testing of local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), hubs, routers, switches, controllers, multiplexers, or related networking equipment.

decision support — Network specs drafted; human validates

Configure computer networks. Develop specifications for computer network operation.

#18998 · Core · 35% automatable

Install new hardware or software systems or components, ensuring integration with existing network systems.

physical manipulation — Software install often needs hands-on machine access

Install computer software. Install computer hardware.

#19001 · Core · 64% automatable

Test computer software or hardware, using standard diagnostic testing equipment and procedures.

data analysis — AI can run and analyze software performance tests

Test computer hardware performance. Test software performance.

#18999 · Core · 33% automatable

Install or repair network cables, including fiber optic cables.

decision support — Network troubleshooting needs hands-on diagnosis

Install computer hardware. Resolve computer network problems.

#19009 · Core · 80% automatable

Monitor industry Web sites or publications for information about patches, releases, viruses, or potential problem identification.

information retrieval — AI scans trend sources; human weighs relevance

Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.

#19006 · Core · 80% automatable

Create or update technical documentation for network installations or changes to existing installations.

text generation — Draft network activity documentation from inputs

Document network-related activities or tasks.

#19014 · Core · 55% automatable

Train users in procedures related to network applications software or related systems.

interpersonal — Software training content AI-generatable, live coaching human

Train others in computer interface or software use.

#19013 · Core · 55% automatable

Test repaired items to ensure proper operation.

data analysis — AI interprets test output; human executes tests

Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.

#18996 · Core · 15% automatable

Install and configure wireless networking equipment.

physical manipulation — Hardware installation is physical hands-on work

Install computer hardware.

#19008 · Core · 80% automatable

Maintain logs of network activity.

text generation — Draft network activity documentation from inputs

Document network-related activities or tasks.

#19007 · Core · 80% automatable

Document help desk requests and resolutions.

text generation — Document routine operational activities from inputs

Document operational activities.

#19011 · Core · 42% automatable

Research hardware or software products to meet technical networking or security needs.

data analysis — Product research aided; physical testing human

Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.

#19005 · Core · 80% automatable

Create or revise user instructions, procedures, or manuals.

text generation — Draft instruction manuals from product details

Prepare instruction manuals.

#19012 · Core · 80% automatable

Run monthly network reports.

text generation — Draft network activity documentation from inputs

Document network-related activities or tasks.

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Community Sentiment

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Method

How this was scored

1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.

Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.

Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast

See the full method →

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