U.S.

BureauofLaborStatistics
NetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrators
Summary

AdministratorsmaintainnetworkLANs,WANs,and
intranets.
QuickFacts:NetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrators
2015MedianPay

$77,810peryear
$37.41perhour

TypicalEntryLevelEducation

Bachelor'sdegree

WorkExperienceinaRelatedOccupation

None

OnthejobTraining

None

NumberofJobs,2014

382,600

JobOutlook,201424

8%(Asfastasaverage)

EmploymentChange,201424

30,200

WhatNetworkandComputerSystemsAdministratorsDo
Computernetworksarecriticalpartsofalmosteveryorganization.Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsareresponsible
forthedaytodayoperationofthesenetworks.
WorkEnvironment
Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsworkwiththephysicalcomputernetworksofavarietyoforganizationsand
thereforeareemployedinmanyindustries.
HowtoBecomeaNetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrator
Mostemployersrequirenetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorstohaveabachelorsdegreeinafieldrelatedtocomputeror
informationscience.Othersmayrequireonlyapostsecondarycertificate.
Pay
Themedianannualwagefornetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorswas$77,810inMay2015.
JobOutlook
Employmentofnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsisprojectedtogrow8percentfrom2014to2024,aboutasfastas
theaverageforalloccupations.Demandforinformationtechnologyworkersishighandshouldcontinuetogrowasfirmsinvestin
newer,fastertechnologyandmobilenetworks.
State&AreaData

State&AreaData
Exploreresourcesforemploymentandwagesbystateandareafornetworkandcomputersystemsadministrators.
SimilarOccupations
Comparethejobduties,education,jobgrowth,andpayofnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorswithsimilaroccupations.
MoreInformation,IncludingLinkstoO*NET
Learnmoreaboutnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsbyvisitingadditionalresources,includingO*NET,asourceon
keycharacteristicsofworkersandoccupations.

WhatNetworkandComputerSystemsAdministratorsDo

Administratorsfixcomputerserver
problems.
Computernetworksarecriticalpartsofalmosteveryorganization.Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsareresponsible
forthedaytodayoperationofthesenetworks.Theyorganize,install,andsupportanorganizationscomputersystems,including
localareanetworks(LANs),wideareanetworks(WANs),networksegments,intranets,andotherdatacommunicationsystems.

Duties
Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorstypicallydothefollowing:
Determineanorganizationsnetworkandcomputersystemneedsbeforesettingoneup
Installallnetworkhardwareandsoftwareandmakeneededupgradesandrepairs
Maintainnetworkandcomputersystemsecurityandensurethatallsystemsareoperatingcorrectly
Collectdatainordertoevaluateandoptimizenetworkorsystemperformance
Adduserstoanetworkandassignandupdatesecuritypermissionsonthenetwork
Trainusersintheproperuseofhardwareandsoftware
Interpretandsolveproblemswhenauseroranautomatedmonitoringsystemalertsthemthatoneexists
Administratorsmanageanorganizationsserversanddesktopandmobileequipment.Theyensurethatemailanddatastorage
networksworkproperly.Theyalsomakesurethatemployeesworkstationsareworkingefficientlyandstayconnectedtothecentral
computernetwork.Someadministratorsmanagetelecommunicationnetworks.
Insomecases,administratorshelpnetworkarchitectsdesignandanalyzenetworkmodels.Theyalsoparticipateindecisionsabout
buyingfuturehardwareorsoftwaretoupgradetheirorganizationsnetwork.Someadministratorsprovidetechnicalsupportto
computerusers,andtheyalsomaysupervisecomputersupportspecialistswhohelpsolveusersproblems.

WorkEnvironment

WorkEnvironment

Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsworkwith
networkarchitects,ITmanagement,andnonITstaff.
Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsheldabout382,600jobsin2014.Theindustriesthatemployedthemostnetwork
andcomputersystemsadministratorswereasfollows:

Computersystemsdesignandrelatedservices

16%

Informaon

11

Educaonalservices;state,local,andprivate

10

Financeandinsurance

Administraveandsupportservices

Networkandcomputersystemsadministratorsworkwithmanytypesofworkers,includinginformationtechnology(IT)workers,
suchascomputernetworkarchitectsandcomputerandinformationsystemsmanagers,andnonITstaff.

WorkSchedules
In2014,mostnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsworkedfulltime.Mostorganizationsdependontheircomputer
networks,somanyadministratorsmustworkovertimetoensurethatthenetworksareoperatingproperly.About1in4ofthese
administratorsworkedmorethan40hoursperweekin2014.

HowtoBecomeaNetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrator

Administratorsneedstrongcomputerskills.
Mostemployersrequirenetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorstohaveabachelorsdegreeinafieldrelatedtocomputeror
informationscience.Othersmayrequireonlyapostsecondarycertificate.

informationscience.Othersmayrequireonlyapostsecondarycertificate.

Education
Althoughsomeemployersrequireonlyapostsecondarycertificate,mostrequireabachelorsdegreeinafieldrelatedtocomputeror
informationscience.Therearedegreeprogramsthatfocusoncomputernetworkandsystemadministration.However,because
administratorsworkwithcomputerhardwareandequipment,adegreeincomputerengineeringorelectricalengineeringusuallyis
acceptableaswell.Programsinthesefieldsusuallyincludeclassesincomputerprogramming,networking,orsystemsdesign.
Becausenetworktechnologyiscontinuallychanging,administratorsneedtokeepupwiththelatestdevelopments.Manycontinue
totakecoursesthroughouttheircareersandattendinformationtechnology(IT)conferencestokeepupwiththelatesttechnology.
Somebusinessesrequirethatanadministratorgetamastersdegree.

Licenses,Certifications,andRegistrations
Certificationprogramsaregenerallyoffereddirectlyfromvendorsorfromvendorneutralcertificationproviders.Certification
validatesknowledgeandbestpracticesrequiredfromnetworkandcomputersystemsadministrators.Companiesmayrequiretheir
networkandcomputersystemsadministratorstobecertifiedintheproducttheyuse.MicrosoftandCiscooffersomeofthemost
commoncertifications.

OtherExperience
Togainpracticalexperience,manynetworkadministratorsparticipateininternshipprogramswhileinschool.

Advancement
Networkadministratorscanadvancetobecomecomputernetworkarchitects.Theycanalsoadvancetomanagerialjobsin
informationtechnology(IT)departments,suchascomputerandinformationsystemsmanagers.

ImportantQualities
Analyticalskills.Administratorsneedanalyticalskillstoevaluatenetworkandsystemperformanceanddeterminehow
changesintheenvironmentwillaffectthem.
Communicationskills.AdministratorsmustbeabletodescribeproblemsandtheirsolutionstononITworkers.
Computerskills.Administratorsoverseetheconnectionsofmanydifferenttypesofcomputerequipmentandmustensurethat
theyallworktogetherproperly.
Multitaskingskills.Administratorsmayhavetoworkonmanyproblemsandtasksatthesametime.
Problemsolvingskills.Administratorsmustbeabletoquicklyresolveanyproblemsthatarisewithcomputernetworks.

Pay

NetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrators
Medianannualwages,May2015

Computeroccupations

$81,430

Networkandcomputer
systemsadministrators

Total,alloccupations

$77,810

$36,200

Note:AllOccupationsincludesalloccupationsintheU.S.Economy.
Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,OccupationalEmploymentStatistics

Themedianannualwagefornetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorswas$77,810inMay2015.Themedianwageisthewage
atwhichhalftheworkersinanoccupationearnedmorethanthatamountandhalfearnedless.Thelowest10percentearnedless
than$47,460,andthehighest10percentearnedmorethan$124,090.
InMay2015,themedianannualwagesfornetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsinthetopindustriesinwhichthey
workedwereasfollows:

Informaon

$83,770

Computersystemsdesignandrelatedservices

83,620

Financeandinsurance

82,790

Administraveandsupportservices

77,400

Educaonalservices;state,local,andprivate

66,500

In2014,mostnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsworkedfulltime.Mostorganizationsdependontheircomputer
networks,somanyadministratorsworkovertimetoensurethatthenetworksareoperatingproperly.About1in4ofthese
administratorsworkedmorethan40hoursperweekin2014.

JobOutlook

NetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrators
Percentchangeinemployment,projected201424

Computeroccupations

Networkandcomputer
systemsadministrators

Total,alloccupations

12%

8%

7%

Note:AllOccupationsincludesalloccupationsintheU.S.Economy.
Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,EmploymentProjectionsprogram

Employmentofnetworkandcomputersystemsadministratorsisprojectedtogrow8percentfrom2014to2024,aboutasfastas
theaverageforalloccupations.Demandforinformationtechnologyworkersishighandshouldcontinuetogrowasfirmsinvestin
newer,fastertechnologyandmobilenetworks.Growthisalsoexpectedinhealthcareindustriesastheiruseofinformation
technologyincreases.Moreadministratorswillberequiredtomanagethegrowingsystemsandnetworksfoundathospitalsand
otherhealthcareinstitutions.However,anincreaseincloudcomputingcouldraisetheproductivityofnetworkadministrators,
slowingtheirgrowthacrossmanyindustries.
Employmentofnetworkadministratorsinthecomputersystemsdesignandrelatedservicesindustryisprojectedtogrow31
percentfrom2014to2024.Theincreasingadoptionofcloudservicesbysmallandmediumsizedbusinesseswhodonothavetheir
owndedicatedinformationtechnology(IT)departmentscouldincreasethedemandfornetworkandcomputersystems
administratorsinestablishmentswithinthisindustry.

JobProspects
Jobopportunitiesshouldbefavorableinthisoccupation.Prospectsshouldbebestforapplicantswhohaveabachelorsdegreein
computernetworkandsystemadministrationorcomputerscienceandwhoareuptodateonthelatesttechnology,especiallycloud

computing.

Employmentprojectionsdatafornetworkandcomputersystemsadministrators,201424
OccupationalTitle
Networkandcomputersystems
administrators

SOC
Code

Employment,
2014

151142

Projected
Employment,2024

382,600

Change,201424
Percent Numeric

412,800

Employmentby
Industry

30,200

[XLSX]

SOURCE:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,EmploymentProjectionsprogram

State&AreaData
OccupationalEmploymentStatistics(OES)
TheOccupationalEmploymentStatistics(OES)programproducesemploymentandwageestimatesannuallyforover800
occupations.Theseestimatesareavailableforthenationasawhole,forindividualstates,andformetropolitanand
nonmetropolitanareas.Thelink(s)belowgotoOESdatamapsforemploymentandwagesbystateandarea.
Networkandcomputersystemsadministrators

ProjectionsCentral
OccupationalemploymentprojectionsaredevelopedforallstatesbyLaborMarketInformation(LMI)orindividualstate
EmploymentProjectionsoffices.Allstateprojectionsdataareavailableatwww.projectionscentral.com .Informationonthissite
allowsprojectedemploymentgrowthforanoccupationtobecomparedamongstatesortobecomparedwithinonestate.In
addition,statesmayproduceprojectionsforareastherearelinkstoeachstateswebsiteswherethesedatamayberetrieved.

CareerInfoNet
AmericasCareerInfoNetincludeshundredsofoccupationalprofiles withdataavailablebystateandmetroarea.Therearelinks
inthelefthandsidemenutocompareoccupationalemploymentbystateandoccupationalwagesbylocalareaormetroarea.There
isalsoasalaryinfotool tosearchforwagesbyzipcode.

SimilarOccupations
Thistableshowsalistofoccupationswithjobdutiesthataresimilartothoseofnetworkandcomputersystemsadministrators.
OCCUPATION

Computerand
Information
Systems
Managers

OCCUPATION

JOBDUTIES
Computerandinformation
systemsmanagers,oftencalled
informationtechnology(IT)
managersorITproject
managers,plan,coordinate,and
directcomputerrelated
activitiesinanorganization.
Theyhelpdeterminethe
informationtechnologygoals
ofanorganizationandare
responsibleforimplementing
computersystemstomeet
thosegoals.

JOBDUTIES
Computerhardwareengineers

ENTRYLEVELEDUCATION

Bachelor'sdegree

ENTRYLEVELEDUCATION

2015MEDIANPAY

$131,600

2015MEDIANPAY

Computer
Hardware
Engineers

Computerhardwareengineers
research,design,develop,and
testcomputersystemsand
componentssuchas
processors,circuitboards,
memorydevices,networks,and
routers.Theseengineers
discovernewdirectionsin
computerhardware,which
generaterapidadvancesin
computertechnology.

Bachelor'sdegree

$111,730

Computer
Network
Architects

Computernetworkarchitects
designandbuilddata
communicationnetworks,
includinglocalareanetworks
(LANs),wideareanetworks
(WANs),andintranets.These
networksrangefromsmall
connectionsbetweentwo
officestonextgeneration
networkingcapabilitiessuchas
acloudinfrastructurethat
servesmultiplecustomers.

Bachelor'sdegree

$100,240

Computer
Programmers

Computerprogrammerswrite
andtestcodethatallows
computerapplicationsand
softwareprogramstofunction
properly.Theyturnthe
programdesignscreatedby
softwaredevelopersand
engineersintoinstructionsthat
acomputercanfollow.

Bachelor'sdegree

$79,530

Computer
Support
Specialists

Computersupportspecialists
providehelpandadviceto
peopleandorganizationsusing
computersoftwareor
equipment.Some,called
computernetworksupport
specialists,support
informationtechnology(IT)
employeeswithintheir
organization.Others,called
computerusersupport
specialists,assistnonITusers
whoarehavingcomputer
problems.

SeeHowtoBecomeOne

$51,470

Computer
Systems
Analysts

Computersystemsanalysts
studyanorganizationscurrent
computersystemsand
proceduresanddesign
informationsystemssolutions
tohelptheorganizationoperate
moreefficientlyandeffectively.
Theybringbusinessand
informationtechnology(IT)
togetherbyunderstandingthe
needsandlimitationsofboth.

Bachelor'sdegree

$85,800

OCCUPATION

JOBDUTIES
Databaseadministrators

ENTRYLEVELEDUCATION

2015MEDIANPAY

Database
Administrators

Databaseadministrators
(DBAs)usespecialized
softwaretostoreandorganize
data,suchasfinancial
informationandcustomer
shippingrecords.Theymake
surethatdataareavailableto
usersandaresecurefrom
unauthorizedaccess.

Bachelor'sdegree

$81,710

Information
Security
Analysts

Informationsecurityanalysts
planandcarryoutsecurity
measurestoprotectan
organizationscomputer
networksandsystems.Their
responsibilitiesarecontinually
expandingasthenumberof
cyberattacksincreases.

Bachelor'sdegree

$90,120

Electricaland
Electronics
Engineers

Electricalengineersdesign,
develop,test,andsupervisethe
manufacturingofelectrical
equipment,suchaselectric
motors,radarandnavigation
systems,communications
systems,andpowergeneration
equipment.Electronics
engineersdesignanddevelop
electronicequipment,suchas
broadcastandcommunications
systemsfromportablemusic
playerstoglobalpositioning
systems(GPSs).

Bachelor'sdegree

$95,230

Software
Developers

Softwaredevelopersarethe
creativemindsbehind
computerprograms.Some
developtheapplicationsthat
allowpeopletodospecific
tasksonacomputeroranother
device.Othersdevelopthe
underlyingsystemsthatrunthe
devicesorthatcontrol
networks.

Bachelor'sdegree

$100,690

Web
Developers

Webdevelopersdesignand
createwebsites.Theyare
responsibleforthelookofthe
site.Theyarealsoresponsible
forthesitestechnicalaspects,
suchasitsperformanceand
capacity,whicharemeasuresof
awebsitesspeedandhow
muchtrafficthesitecan
handle.Inaddition,web
developersmaycreatecontent
forthesite.

Associate'sdegree

$64,970

ContactsforMoreInformation
Formoreinformationaboutcomputercareers,visit
AssociationforComputingMachinery
IEEEComputerSociety
CompTIA
Forinformationaboutopportunitiesforwomenpursuinginformationtechnologycareers,visit

NationalCenterforWomen&InformationTechnology

O*NET
NetworkandComputerSystemsAdministrators
Suggestedcitation:

BureauofLaborStatistics,U.S.DepartmentofLabor,OccupationalOutlookHandbook,201617Edition,NetworkandComputerSystems
Administrators,
ontheInternetathttp://www.bls.gov/ooh/computerandinformationtechnology/networkandcomputersystemsadministrators.htm(visited
November28,2016).

PublishDate:Thursday,December17,2015

U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics|OfficeofOccupationalStatisticsandEmploymentProjections,PSBSuite2135,2MassachusettsAvenue,NE
Washington,DC202120001
www.bls.gov/ooh|Telephone:12026915700|ContactOOH