Network and Computer Systems Administrator
Indexed description
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
O*NET-SOC: 15-1244.00
Technology
Installs, configures, and maintains an organization's local area network, wide area network, internet, and intranet systems, ensuring network availability, security, and performance.
See your fit
Take the quiz to see how you match
Take the Quiz
$97K
Median Salary
+2%
Stable
Bachelor's Degree
Min. Education
Moderate Balance
Work-Life Balance
About This Role
Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for keeping an organization's computer networks, servers, and related infrastructure running reliably and securely. They start the day by checking monitoring dashboards that track the health of servers, network connections, and key services, looking for anything that might be slowing down or at risk of failing. When issues arise, such as a server going offline or employees losing internet access, they diagnose the root cause and restore service, often under time pressure because outages directly affect everyone in the organization.
A Day in the Life
8:00 AM
Check monitoring dashboards
Review system monitoring tools for any alerts about server performance, network speed, or service outages that occurred overnight, and prioritize any issues that need immediate attention.
8:30 AM
Resolve helpdesk tickets
Work through support requests from employees, such as resetting passwords, fixing remote access problems, or diagnosing why a shared file server is running slowly.
10:00 AM
Apply updates and patches
Install security updates on servers and workstations, verify that overnight backups completed successfully, and update firewall rules to reflect any new access requirements.
12:00 PM
Lunch and team check-in
Take a break and have a quick sync with the IT team to discuss the status of ongoing projects and any upcoming maintenance windows.
1:00 PM
Investigate performance issues
Analyze network traffic logs to find the source of slowdowns, adjust settings to prioritize critical traffic, and set up new network segments for teams that need isolated access.
3:00 PM
Run security checks
Scan systems for vulnerabilities, review who has access to sensitive resources and remove accounts that are no longer needed, and update internal documentation to reflect recent changes.
5:00 PM
Wrap up and hand off
Confirm that all scheduled backups are queued, document any unresolved issues for the next shift or on-call person, and schedule any maintenance tasks that need to run after hours.
Tools & Technologies
- Development Tools
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft PowerShell
- Apache Kafka
- Apache Maven
- C
- Web Development
- AJAX
- Apache Tomcat
- Django
- HTML
- JavaScript
- Database Systems
- Amazon DynamoDB
- Apache Cassandra
- Apache Hadoop
- Apache Hive
- Elasticsearch
- Operating Systems
- Bash
- Linux
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Windows Server
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Databases & Data Tools
- AWS
- ServiceNow
- SQL
- AWS EC2
- Amazon Redshift
- Programming Languages
- Python
- C#
- C++
- jQuery
- Java
Salary Distribution
Salary distribution for Network and Computer Systems Administrator: 10th percentile $60K, 25th $76K, median $97K, 75th $123K, 90th $150K Median $60K $76K $97K $123K $150K
Most professionals earn between $76K and $123K
Network and Computer Systems Administrator salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $60K 25th $76K 50th (Median) $97K 75th $123K 90th $150K
Salary by State
Network and Computer Systems Administrator salary by state map
Network and Computer Systems Administrator salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $114K $81K - $170K Maryland $112K $67K - $185K California $107K $67K - $167K Virginia $107K $67K - $166K New Jersey $105K $56K - $156K Massachusetts $105K $66K - $158K New York $104K $67K - $163K Washington $104K $64K - $160K Colorado $104K $69K - $144K Connecticut $103K $68K - $158K Rhode Island $102K $70K - $149K Oregon $101K $69K - $134K Hawaii $100K $68K - $137K North Carolina $98K $57K - $150K Illinois $97K $59K - $145K Minnesota $97K $65K - $133K Delaware $96K $57K - $141K Nevada $95K $61K - $142K New Hampshire $95K $60K - $132K Texas $94K $58K - $147K Georgia $94K $62K - $138K Michigan $94K $62K - $134K Ohio $93K $59K - $138K Florida $93K $59K - $137K Alaska $92K $65K - $126K Tennessee $90K $55K - $184K Idaho $89K $60K - $133K South Carolina $89K $62K - $132K Utah $88K $60K - $138K New Mexico $87K $66K - $124K Arizona $87K $61K - $136K Pennsylvania $86K $57K - $131K Louisiana $86K $58K - $143K Oklahoma $86K $59K - $137K Nebraska $86K $59K - $129K Vermont $85K $61K - $114K Wisconsin $83K $58K - $131K Iowa $82K $57K - $123K Kansas $82K $58K - $124K Missouri $82K $51K - $135K North Dakota $82K $59K - $113K Kentucky $82K $51K - $129K Alabama $81K $52K - $130K Indiana $80K $55K - $124K Arkansas $79K $49K - $127K Maine $79K $46K - $113K Montana $78K $58K - $106K Mississippi $75K $38K - $116K West Virginia $73K $48K - $118K Wyoming $73K $54K - $113K South Dakota $71K $52K - $100K
Network and Computer Systems Administrator salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $114K $81K - $170K Maryland $112K $67K - $185K California $107K $67K - $167K Virginia $107K $67K - $166K New Jersey $105K $56K - $156K Massachusetts $105K $66K - $158K New York $104K $67K - $163K Washington $104K $64K - $160K Colorado $104K $69K - $144K Connecticut $103K $68K - $158K Rhode Island $102K $70K - $149K Oregon $101K $69K - $134K Hawaii $100K $68K - $137K North Carolina $98K $57K - $150K Illinois $97K $59K - $145K Minnesota $97K $65K - $133K Delaware $96K $57K - $141K Nevada $95K $61K - $142K New Hampshire $95K $60K - $132K Texas $94K $58K - $147K Georgia $94K $62K - $138K Michigan $94K $62K - $134K Ohio $93K $59K - $138K Florida $93K $59K - $137K Alaska $92K $65K - $126K Tennessee $90K $55K - $184K Idaho $89K $60K - $133K South Carolina $89K $62K - $132K Utah $88K $60K - $138K New Mexico $87K $66K - $124K Arizona $87K $61K - $136K Pennsylvania $86K $57K - $131K Louisiana $86K $58K - $143K Oklahoma $86K $59K - $137K Nebraska $86K $59K - $129K Vermont $85K $61K - $114K Wisconsin $83K $58K - $131K Iowa $82K $57K - $123K Kansas $82K $58K - $124K Missouri $82K $51K - $135K North Dakota $82K $59K - $113K Kentucky $82K $51K - $129K Alabama $81K $52K - $130K Indiana $80K $55K - $124K Arkansas $79K $49K - $127K Maine $79K $46K - $113K Montana $78K $58K - $106K Mississippi $75K $38K - $116K West Virginia $73K $48K - $118K Wyoming $73K $54K - $113K South Dakota $71K $52K - $100K
Lower ($71K-$93K)Middle (~$93K)Higher ($93K-$114K)
Highest Paying States
- 1.District of Columbia$114K
- 2.Maryland$112K
- 3.California$107K
- 4.Virginia$107K
- 5.New Jersey$105K
- 1.South Dakota$71K
- 2.Wyoming$73K
- 3.West Virginia$73K
- 4.Mississippi$75K
- 5.Montana$78K
Essential
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA
Certification
Foundational cert covering networking concepts, infrastructure, and troubleshooting.
Recommended
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Systems
Certification
Validates skills in routing, switching, wireless, and network fundamentals.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
ISC2
Certification
Advanced security cert for risk management and network protection.
Helpful
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft
Certification
Focuses on managing cloud identities, governance, and compute in Azure.
Professional Memberships
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Membership
Association for Computing Machinery
Membership
Provides resources, conferences, and networking for IT professionals.
Work Environment
Remote Work Hybrid (Remote + Office)
Work Setting Traditional office / indoor
Physical Activity Mostly sedentary
Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction
Schedule Extended hours common
Your Skills & Attributes
Skills & Competencies Matches (42)
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
- Active Listening
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Network and Computer Systems Administrator a good career?
Network and Computer Systems Administrator can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $97K and job outlook is stable (2% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match.
What degree do you need to become a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
The typical education requirement for a Network and Computer Systems Administrator is a Bachelor's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience.
How long does it take to become a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
Becoming a Network and Computer Systems Administrator typically requires about 4 years of undergraduate study. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements.
What is the work-life balance like for a Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
The work-life balance for a Network and Computer Systems Administrator is moderate, with some periods requiring extended hours or flexibility. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location.
What is the job outlook for Network and Computer Systems Administrator?
The job outlook for Network and Computer Systems Administrator is stable. Employment is projected to grow by 2% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization.
Find Network and Computer Systems Administrator Jobs
Google Jobs
(opens in new tab)
Aggregated listings from across the web
Search Network and Computer Systems Administrator jobs
Indeed
(opens in new tab)
One of the largest job search engines
Search Network and Computer Systems Administrator jobs
(opens in new tab)
Professional network job listings
Search Network and Computer Systems Administrator jobs
Related Careers
Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards
Technology
Computer Network Architect
Designs and builds data communication networks, including local area networks, wide area networks, and intranets, evaluating business needs and planning network infrastructure for scalability and security.
Technology
Computer Systems Engineer / Architect
Designs and integrates complex computing systems, including hardware, software, networking, and cloud infrastructure, ensuring components work together to meet performance, scalability, and security requirements.
Technology
Computer User Support Specialist
Provides technical assistance and support to computer users, troubleshooting hardware, software, and network issues via phone, email, chat, or in person at help desks and IT departments.
Technology
Data Analyst
Develops and applies techniques of data analysis, data mining, machine learning, and statistics to large structured and unstructured datasets to extract meaningful insights for business decision-making.
Technology
Information Security Analyst
Plans, implements, upgrades, and monitors security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and information systems from cyberattacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access.
Create a free Caio profile to unlock more results and save your role and location preferences.
Unlock free search