How to Become a Network Administrator
Install, configure, and maintain local and wide area networks, intranets, and other communication systems. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $99,130 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$99,130/yr
Middle half
$78,010 to $126,640
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
14,300
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Network Configuration
- Firewalls and VPNs
- Troubleshooting
- TCP/IP
- Network Monitoring
Helpful certifications
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCNA
- Cisco CCNP
- CompTIA Security+
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
55/100
Work-life balance
62/100
Stress level
48/100
Satisfaction
67/100
Related careers
- Product Manager$166,790 median
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- Cybersecurity Analyst$129,180 median
- Data Scientist$120,230 median
- IT Project Manager$116,580 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Network Administrator make?
The median pay for a Network Administrator is $99,130 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $78,010 and $126,640 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Network Administrator?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Information Technology, Computer Science, Network Engineering, and Computer Engineering.
Is Network Administrator a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 14,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Network Administrator use most?
Common skills for this role are Network Configuration, Firewalls and VPNs, Troubleshooting, TCP/IP, and Network Monitoring.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).