How much does a network and computer systems administrator make?

The median pay is $47.66 per hour — roughly $99,000 a year, with the real range running from about $30.11/hr (10th percentile) to $74.55/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a network and computer systems administrator?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

What does a network and computer systems administrator actually do all day?

Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations. Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.

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Network and Computer Systems Administrators

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.

What it pays
Network and Computer Systems Administrators earn a median of $47.66/hr — about $99,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $30.11/hr; the top 10% earn $74.55/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use.
Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work splits time indoors and out. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0.3% of network and computer systems administrators are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, hands-on and analytical.

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Quick questions

How much does a network and computer systems administrator make?: The median pay is $47.66 per hour — roughly $99,000 a year, with the real range running from about $30.11/hr (10th percentile) to $74.55/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a network and computer systems administrator?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
What does a network and computer systems administrator actually do all day?: Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations. Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.