Network Administrator Salary: Your 2024 Guide

Network administrators enjoy robust earning potential, achieving a median salary of $95,360, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1].

It’s also a varied position. As a network administrator, you can work in different companies, organizations, or government entities. You’re responsible for maintaining the physical computer networks to keep operations running. However, the job outlook for network administrator positions is somewhat mixed over the next decade. While all computer occupations are expected to grow rapidly between 2023 and 2033, the BLS expects a slight decline in network administrator positions. 

In this article, you'll discover how factors like education, experience, industry, location, and the company you work for can impact your salary in this field.

What is a network administrator?

A network administrator operates the computer networks needed for companies and organizations. In this role, you’re responsible for installing network hardware and software specific to your organization’s needs, maintaining network security, and adding users to the network. 

Daily tasks that you may need to do as a network administrator include:

• Evaluate computer networks to ensure they’re running smoothly

• Recommend upgrades to optimize the system’s performance

• Troubleshoot any problems that occur with the network

Read more: Your Guide to System Administration Degrees

How much does a computer network administrator make?

Network administrators in the US make a median annual income of $95,360, according to the BLS [1]. Various other job listing sites report the average annual base pay for network administrators. Check out how they compare in the chart below, which outlines the salaries calculated by Lightcast™, the BLS, and three other reputable organizations that track network administrator salaries:

*All salary data as of November 2024

The exact pay you can expect to earn is typically influenced by your education, experience, location, and more.

Factors that affect network administrator salary

Factors such as your previous experience in network administration or your education level can boost your potential earnings. Your company's location can also impact your salary, including the role’s demand in a particular area or the cost of living. Additionally, some industry sectors will earn more than others depending on your particular interests or specialties in the field.

Network administrator salary by education

Most organizations require network administrators to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like computer and information technology or computer network administration. Some employers may accept an associate degree or postsecondary certificate.

Explore the average network administrator salaries in the US based on education level, according to Zippia [3]:

• Associate degree: $70,407

• Bachelor's degree: $75,797

• Master's degree: $77,829

Is a network administrator a high-paying IT job?

Comparing the average annual income of a network administrator—$95,360, per BLS data—to the national average can help you determine whether this position is a high-paying option [1]. BLS reports that general computer occupations have a median annual salary of $104,420, slightly higher than a network administrator [1].

However, compared to the national average, a network administrator earns considerably more. Data from BLS reveals the national median salary in the third quarter of 2024 was $60,580 for full-time and salary workers [6].

How certifications impact network administrator salaries

Your employer can also require you to earn certifications based on the products you use as a network administrator. You can enroll in certification programs directly through the vendor or with a certification program not affiliated with a vendor.

Specific certifications include Cisco certifications for data administration or networking. You can also get certified in system administration or as a network technology associate. Consider some of the following certifications that can help boost a network administrator's salary. The figures represent average annual base pay, according to Payscale:

• Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking: $75,000 [7]

• CompTIA Network+: $78,000 [8]

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): $90,000 [9]

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security: $97,000 [10]

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): $107,000 [11]

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): $140,000 [12]

Network administration salary by level of experience

Your previous experience as a network administrator can affect your salary, as more experience can generally lead to a higher annual income. According to Glassdoor, the estimated average base salaries you can expect based on your years of experience [4]:

• 0–1 year: $64,779

• 1–3 years: $66,627

• 4–6 years: $72,441

• 7–9 years: $74,390

• 10–14 years: $78,105

• 15 or more years: $86,710

Network admin salary by location

The cost of living and regional factors of where you live can affect your network administrator salary. Take a look at the five top-paying states and districts for network administrators based on data collected by the BLS, along with the mean salary for each location [13]:

• Maryland: $116,300

• California: $114,770

• District of Columbia: $113,990

• Rhode Island: $112,220

• New Jersey: $111,190

Cities that have higher earnings will typically have more expensive cost of living. You can earn more if you live in these areas or are willing to relocate. Silicon Valley and surrounding areas are at the top of the list for areas with the highest pay for network administrators:

• San Jose

• Sunnyvale

• Santa Clara

• San Francisco

• Oakland

• Hayward

Expect an average annual wage of $139,670 in the San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara area. The San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward area has an estimated $133,530 in average annual income [13].

As a network administrator working in the DC metropolitan area, which includes Washington, DC, Alexandria, and Arlington in Virginia, you can expect to earn an average annual wage of $119,200 [13].

Network administrator salary by industry

The industry you work in can also influence your salary. The following five industries are the highest-paying for network administrators, according to Glassdoor. Note that these median salaries include additional compensation in its figures, such as stocks, cash, bonuses, and other benefits along with base pay [4]:

• Manufacturing: $101,060

• Aerospace and defense: $104,605

• Financial services: $92,014

• Retail & Wholesale: $94,980

• Telecommunications: $94,481

Network administrator skills and salary

Certain technical and workplace skills can help boost your salary and resume. Technical skills are those that represent the practical aspects of your role, while workplace skills contribute to how productive you are in a work environment.

Technical skills to cultivate: 

• Understanding switches and routers 

• Knowing the configuration and administration of servers 

• Troubleshooting and fixing network issues

Workplace skills to develop: 

• Problem-solving

• Communication

• Collaborating with fellow team members 

• Multi-tasking to set up and monitor servers

Network administrator salary by company

Another factor that can impact how much you earn is the company you work for. According to Glassdoor, some of the highest-paying companies and their corresponding median total salaries (which include base salaries plus additional compensation, such as bonuses or profit sharing) include the following [4]:

• Workday: $187,000

• NVIDIA: $162,000

• Akamai: $157,000

• VMWare: $154,000

• Microsoft: $152,000

• Amazon Web Services: $143,000

• Google: $138,000

• Oracle: $134,000

• Cisco: $131,000

• Bank of America: $112,000

• Visa Inc.: $130,000

• Verizon: $100,000

Network administrator job outlook

The BLS expects network administrator positions to decline by 3 percent from 2023 to 2033 [14]. It expects companies and organizations to lose around 8,800 total jobs during that timeframe due to tasks increasingly being done by other roles, such as software developers. The BLS also expects some responsibilities to be outsourced to companies that focus on Networks-as-a-Service or automated tasks.

The good news is that as companies continue to grow and organizations adapt to newer technology, mobile networks, and an increase in cloud computing, the BLS expects general computer occupations to grow 12 percent between 2023 and 2033, which is a promising sign for the IT field in general [14].

Build your skills on Coursera

Starting a career as a network administrator can be a lucrative career. Still, the average salary you can expect to earn will vary based on factors like your education level, certifications, and skills. Continue learning about the profession and developing the skills you’ll need to succeed as a network administrator with IBM’s Introduction to Networking and Storage on Coursera. The course covers how to set up and encrypt networks and the different network drive types.

You can also learn more about administration with Google’s System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services on Coursera. You’ll learn about infrastructure services, including cloud infrastructure, and how to set up and manage servers. Upon completion, gain a Professional Certificate to include in your resume or LinkedIn profile.