Network Administrator Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 12 minutes
Reading Time: 12 minutes

The following article discusses the career path of Network Administrator. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Network Administrators.

Job Duties

Network administrators are responsible for the maintenance of all hardware and software in their organization. Usually, they specifically look after certain components of the network. Sometimes, they also design new networks and implement them. The exact responsibilities a network administrator may have vary greatly depending on the company and its location. That said, some responsibilities are seen commonly across the board.

Usually, these administrators are responsible for assigning network addresses and implementing and managing the relevant protocols. They maintain the file servers and the networks themselves. In a smaller organization, they are often responsible for the maintenance of smartphones, routers, printers, computers, and other such hardware. They monitor the network as a whole, they test it to find any weaknesses, they ensure the system is up to date, they choose and implement security programs, they evaluate the software that is in place to manage the network, and so on.

Furthermore, a network administrator is charged with making sure that the organization’s network is used in an effective manner and is always maintained properly. In smaller organizations, they commonly also have to ensure that all licenses are relevant and up to date, maintain the different applications and installations, and investigate and prevent security breaches. They are highly technical individuals with a widely varying role.

Other job duties of a network administrator include:

  • To deliver, install, set up, troubleshoot, and repair the software and hardware within their organization.
  • To train other people on how to properly use the telecom and AV systems and software applications.
  • To be responsible for the upkeep of the full telecom system, which includes the PDAs, handsets, and other tools.
  • To maintain the inventory of the IT department, ensuring equipment is disposed of properly and schedules are updated as necessary.

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 391,300 network and computer systems administrators in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Computer systems design and related services: 18%
  • Information: 11%
  • Educational services; state, local, and private: 10%
  • Finance and insurance: 9%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 7%

How to Become

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, information systems, or similar field is generally required. Additionally, it is expected that network administrators have a personal interest in computer networks and technology.

Education Requirements

In certain organizations, a post-secondary certificate is all that is required, or perhaps an associate’s degree, in order for someone to become a network administrator. However, this is increasingly rare and a bachelor’s degree is now the acceptable standard. The degree should be in a field that relates to information or computer science. Those that focus specifically on computer system and network administration have the greatest prospects.

However, it is equally acceptable for someone to have a degree in electrical or computer engineering, for instance. This is because the role of a network administrator is also closely related to maintaining equipment. What generally matters most is that they have completed classes in areas such as systems design, networking, and computer programming.

Network technology changes very rapidly and frequently. As a result, a network administrator has to be committed to lifelong learning. Through their career, they will have to attend IT conferences and training events to keep their knowledge up to date. This is why many now have a master’s degree.

There are no legal requirements for licensure or certification, but it is common for administrators to have to be certified at least in the systems used by the organization. These certifications and licenses come from some vendor-neutral providers, but mainly from vendors themselves. When they have been certified, they are able to demonstrate that they have the relevant knowledge to implement best practice standards. Cisco and Microsoft are examples of vendors offering respected certifications for network administrators.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective network administrators have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
  • Good multitaskers
  • Excellent problem solving skills

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Network Administrator was $66,871. This number is estimated from over 2,368,024 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $34.83 and monthly of $5,573.

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$23,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Network Administrator salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $81,882 while Arkansas had the smallest quoted salary of $52,733.

AlabamaIdahoMontanaPennsylvania
ArkansasIllinoisNorth CarolinaRhode Island
ArizonaIndianaNorth DakotaSouth Carolina
CaliforniaKansasNebraskaTennessee
ColoradoKentuckyNew HampshireTexas
ConnecticutLouisianaNew JerseyUtah
DCMassachusettsNew MexicoVirginia
DelawareMarylandNevadaVermont
FloridaMichiganNew YorkWashington
GeorgiaMinnesotaOhioWisconsin
HawaiiMissouriOklahomaWest Virginia
IowaMississippiOregon
Alabama$63,381Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ITAC Solutions, LLC, ITAC Solutions, CyberCoders, and Robert Half Technology.

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$23,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas$52,733Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ritter Communications and Robert Half Technology.

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$16,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona$58,586Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like VincentBenjamin, Career Evolutions, CyberCoders, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$20,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
California$77,436Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HCL Technologies, Technical Connections, Citrix Systems Inc., and HP.

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$28,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado$68,574Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Robert Half Technology, MCG Health System, and Jefferson County Government.

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$26,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut$70,863Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CDI Corporation, Bowman Williams, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and IGATE.

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$31,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
DC$81,882Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CipherStaff, Judicial Branch, American Legacy Foundation, and Bowman Williams.

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$21,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware$72,177Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Beacon Hill Staffing Group -Philadelphia, Beacon Hill Staffing, Motion Recruitment Partners Prod, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$36,000

$112,000

Salary Distribution
Florida$59,503Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, TEKsystems, Collier County, FL, and Veredus.

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$22,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia$58,772Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ORPINE INC, INDU LLC d/b/a Intigrow, Yash Solutions LLC, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$17,000

$124,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii$65,799Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Staffing Solutions of Hawaii, and U.S. Army.

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$28,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa$65,228Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Executive Resources Limited, Access Systems Inc, Palmer Group, and North Star Solutions.

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$31,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho$62,838Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$29,000

$109,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois$69,957Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MatchSource, The laSalle Network, Swoon Tech, and Tech USA.

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$22,000

$143,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana$60,300Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Vaco, LLC, TECHNICAL RECRUITING SOLUTIONS, CyberCoders, and Pinnacle Partners, Inc.

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$25,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas$70,279Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Personnel Services, Inc., CyberCoders, Analysts International Corporation (AIC), and Washburn University.

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$24,000

$139,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky$63,533Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Department of Transportation, TEKsystems, Robert Half Technology, and CyberCoders.

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$23,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana$56,539Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Robert Half Technology, Advantage Resourcing North America, and TEKsystems.

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$20,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts$72,815Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bay Shore Staffing, Dotcom Team, LLC, Ashley Ellis, and ACT Professional Solutions.

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$26,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland$69,992Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Penn Technical Staffing, National Security Agency, Hughes Network Systems, and Tech Mahindra.

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$24,000

$139,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan$64,027Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Request Technology, Tech Mahindra, Integrated Resource Solutions, and Community Living Services.

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$20,000

$131,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota$64,343Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology, Nigel Frank International, IT Trailblazers, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$26,000

$118,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri$58,926Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sterling Partners, USA, Well known and respected technology partner here in the St. Louis area!!, Robert Half Technology, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

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$22,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi$53,980Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SERVICE SPECIALISTS and University of Mississippi.

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$17,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
Montana$54,835Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of MT, State of Montana, and University of Montana.

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$7.25

$70.60

Salary Distribution
North Carolina$63,385Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Cisco, TalentBridge, Piper Companies, and Fujitsu.

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$24,000

$120,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota$58,654Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International.

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$29,000

$99,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska$63,259Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$26,000

$116,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire$70,735Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, DEEBECON INC, IGATE, and Abbott Executive Search.

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$29,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey$70,873Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AM Solution, LLC, LTS NJ, Inc., Robert Half Technology, and Artech Information Systems L.L.C..

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$29,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico$58,331Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Sabio Systems, New Mexico State Personnel Office, and San Juan College.

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$22,000

$112,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada$68,671Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, IGATE, iGate Corporation, and TEKsystems.

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$23,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
New York$74,114Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Smith and Keller, CyberCoders, Kforce, and TEKsystems.

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$26,000

$146,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio$63,346Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Vaco, LLC, CyberCoders, CMD And Associates, and Cameron Craig Group.

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$23,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma$61,619Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Modis, SYSTEMS AMERICA, Robert Half Technology, and Rowland Group, The.

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$23,000

$118,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon$65,585Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International, AM Inc., Robert Half Technology, and IGATE.

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$26,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania$61,934Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PeopleShare, Comcast, Apetan Consulting LLC, and Strategic IT Staffing.

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$23,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island$67,258Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Technology.

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$26,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina$58,856Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Globalpundits Inc, Horry County Government, Tri-County Technical College, and Software Specialists.

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$18,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee$61,043Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NGP, MetaSense, Inc., Protech Systems Group, Inc., and Apex Systems.

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$24,000

$114,000

Salary Distribution
Texas$66,272Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HCL Technologies, Cisco, MBA IT Consulting Services, Inc., and Ericsson.

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$26,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Utah$69,684Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Will remain nameless until interview for security reasons, ConsultNet, and Robert Half Technology.

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$23,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia$66,713Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Piper Companies, Information Technology Coalition, Inc., Strategic IT Staffing, and Cornerstone Rpo.

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$21,000

$138,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont$65,149Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Itech US, Inc. and Confidential – Healthcare.

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$21,000

$134,000

Salary Distribution
Washington$72,294Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City of Vancouver, CyberCoders, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and HCL Technologies.

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$30,000

$132,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin$65,080Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Kforce, Nigel Frank International, and Pathfinder Search Group.

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$27,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia$57,438Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Astyra Corporation.

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$19,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Network Administrator. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary

Learn More

Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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