State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Network and Computer Systems Administrator Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Network and Computer Systems Administrators is $99,130 a year ($47.66/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 4.2% through 2034, with about 14,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 15-1244Computer and MathematicalLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $99,130
- Projected growth
- -4.2%
- Openings a year
- 14,300
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Information Analyst, Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist), LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist), Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator), Network Administrator, Network Coordinator.
How much do Network and Computer Systems Administrators make?
10th percentile$62,640
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$78,010
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$99,130
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$126,640
Upper quartile
90th percentile$155,050
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $99,130 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $47.66/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $103,680 |
| People employed | 314,340 |
Versus all US occupations
At $99,130, Network and Computer Systems Administrators earn 94% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $48,150 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 15% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $155,050 or more while the bottom 10% earn $62,640, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 78% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maryland pays the most at $118,290, and still leads at $112,701 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Network and Computer Systems Administrators the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $118,290 | $112,701 | 9,230 |
| New Jersey | $116,420 | $106,999 | 9,280 |
| Massachusetts | $110,980 | $104,939 | 8,270 |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | $100,973 | 1,320 |
| Virginia | $109,610 | $108,413 | 12,430 |
| California | $106,440 | $96,134 | 26,170 |
| Connecticut | $105,880 | $102,191 | 2,170 |
| New York | $105,810 | $98,044 | 18,220 |
| Washington | $103,910 | $97,100 | 8,600 |
| Nevada | $103,440 | $103,462 | 1,980 |
Is Network and Computer Systems Administrator a growing career?
Network and Computer Systems Administrators-4.2%
All US occupations3.1%
-4.2% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Network and Computer Systems Administrators to change -4.2% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 13,800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 14,300 openings are projected each year, 4.3% of the 331,500 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Network and computer systems administrators will continue to be needed throughout the economy to maintain and upgrade computer networks. However, some of their tasks are increasingly being done by software developers focused on DevOps (development operations), and some tasks are being outsourced to companies who provide Networks-as-a-Service. Additionally, systems administrators are increasingly automating routine tasks.
How to become a Network and Computer Systems Administrator
To enter the occupation, network and computer systems administrators typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field related to computer or information science. Others may require a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s degree.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as network and computer systems administrators.
- Bachelor's Degree52.4%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)20.3%
- Master's Degree10.1%
- Some College Courses9.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7.5%
What does a Network and Computer Systems Administrator do?
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), data communication networks, operating systems, and servers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
- Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
- Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems.
- Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records.
- Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.
- Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future.
- Train people in computer system use.
- Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where network and computer systems administrators work
| Computer systems design and related services | 17% |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 12% |
| Finance and insurance | 9% |
| Information | 8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
- Speaking3.4/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Systems Analysis3.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Troubleshooting3.8/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Programming3.6/5
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.3/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Application server software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Cloud-based management software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base reporting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.2
Investigativeprimary4.0
Artistic1.0
Social2.2
Enterprising3.5
Conventionalprimary6.2
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Network and Computer Systems Administrator: frequently asked questions
How much do Network and Computer Systems Administrators make?
Network and Computer Systems Administrators earn a median of $99,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 94% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $47.66/hr. The middle half earn between $78,010 and $126,640. The top 10% earn $155,050 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Network and Computer Systems Administrators, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.4% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Network and Computer Systems Administrator a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 4.2% over 2024–2034, a loss of 13,800 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 14,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Network and Computer Systems Administrator do?
Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), data communication networks, operating systems, and servers. A core O*NET task: diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Application server software, Business intelligence and data analysis software.
Which states pay Network and Computer Systems Administrators the most?
The highest state medians for Network and Computer Systems Administrators are Maryland ($118,290), New Jersey ($116,420), Massachusetts ($110,980) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
O*NET scores Network and Computer Systems Administrators highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.