The following article discusses the career path of Network Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Network Managers.
Sponsored School(s)
Job Duties
Network managers make sure that every element of the network of the organization, and particularly the computers, are functioning properly. Usually, this means working outside of normal business hours. This is because computers can break down at any point during the day or night. It is also because software and hardware have to be upgraded regularly, which would lead to downtime if the upgrade is done during the day. Network managers have to make significant changes to the overall infrastructure of the organization, which must be completed during non-business hours so as not to restrict and interrupt normal workflow. It is common, therefore, for network managers to have a significant salary because they are paid for overtime as well.
Other job duties of network managers include:
- Managing, controlling, and monitoring recovery if a network failure or some other issue has occurred
- Approving configuration and network changes
- Maintaining support contracts and warranty documentation for network software and hardware components
- Ensuring that all data circuits are properly installed
- Scheduling the update and installation of firmware and software patches, network devices, and other updates and upgrades
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 managers 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 manager. 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 network managers to have a degree in electrical or computer engineering, for instance. This is because the role of a network manager 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, network managers have to be committed to lifelong learning. Throughout 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 these managers to have to be certified at least in the systems they use themselves. These certifications and licenses come from some vendor-neutral providers, but mainly from vendors themselves. When someone has been certified, they can demonstrate they have the relevant knowledge to implement best practice standards. Cisco and Microsoft are examples of vendors offering respected certifications for network managers.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective network managers have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- Strong multitaskers
- Excellent problem solving skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
- .
- .
- .
- Most Reported
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
- .
$28,000
$199,000
The following section lists Network Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Delaware had the largest quoted salary of $157,401 while North Dakota had the smallest quoted salary of $54,024.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Network Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| InfoStaff | Delaware | $185,000 |
| Maganti IT Resources LLC | Delaware | $178,899 |
| Huxley Associates | New York | $159,688 |
| WinterWyman | Massachusetts | $146,195 |
| CyberCoders | Michigan | $139,644 |
| Request Technology | Minnesota | $130,899 |
| Black Diamond Networks | Massachusetts | $130,000 |
| It Staffing, Inc. | New York | $130,000 |
| TEKsystems | New York | $129,540 |
| AMS Staffing, Inc. | Massachusetts | $127,280 |
| Schuback Search Associates | Georgia | $125,961 |
| Synergis | Georgia | $125,260 |
| iGate Corporation | Nevada | $125,000 |
| DTI Global | Georgia | $124,153 |
| Access Staffing LLC | New York | $123,011 |
| Request Technology – Jacqueline White | Texas | $122,474 |
Learn More
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Finance Director | $99,963 |
| Director of Security | $99,822 |
| Operations Officer | $96,045 |
| Director of Nursing | $95,821 |
| Disaster Recovery Manager | $94,956 |
| Treasury Manager | $94,000 |
| Data Manager | $93,937 |
| Transportation Manager | $93,639 |
| Director of Human Resources | $93,347 |
| Compensation Manager | $93,104 |
