Network administrators install, manage and restore computer systems and network equipment like routers, firewalls and switches. Job titles can vary and computer administrator is often used to identify this same role. The median income of a computer and network administrator was $69,160 in 2010, meaning the number of people making more than this figure is the same as the number of people making less.
National Salary Overview
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income of network and computer administrators was $69,160 in 2010, or $33.25 per hour. The lowest 10 percent of earners made below $42,400, while the top 10 percent earned over $108,090 in the same year. These numbers are only slightly below average compared to other IT jobs, which had a median salary of $73,710 in 2010. The median salary for all occupations was $33,840 in 2010.
Regional Variations
D.C.: $78,800 ($50,300 to $115,100)
California: $78,100 ($49,300 to $117,300)
Massachusetts: $77,700 ($50,500 to $114,900)
New York: $76,000 ($46,400 to $118,300)
Colorado: $74,700 ($43,800 to $113,600)
Illinois: $70,800 ($43,000 to $109,000)
National: $69,160 ($42,400 to $108,090)
Texas: $66,500 ($40,300 to $104,300)
Michigan: $64,900 ($41,600 to $101,900)
Georgia: $69,800 ($43,500 to $108,600)
Ohio: $61,400 ($39,400 to $90,300)
Vermont: $59,500 ($39,900 to $91,400)
Montana: $51,200 ($33,000 to $74,000)
For information on states not listed here, visit CareerOneStop.
Salaries by Industry
Salaries for network administrators vary from one industry to another. Those working in computer systems design industry had a median salary of $74,230 in 2010. Administrators in the finance and insurance industry had a median income of $72,660. Manufacturing paid a median wage of $67,870. The health care industry, including social assistance paid $64,560. Educational institutions, including state, local and private schools, paid a median income of $59,230 to computer and network administrators in 2010.
Education
Only 8 percent of network and computer administrators have a high school diploma or GED without any other additional education, according to CareerOneStop. Fifteen percent have an associate's degree. Forty percent have a bachelor's degree. Ten percent have a master's degree. One percent have a doctoral or professional degree.
Salaries Based on Experience
Payscale has several surveys where network administrators using various job titles. Based on these surveys if you are beginning your first year as a network administrator, you can expect to earn anywhere between $24,000 and $61,000. If you have between one and five years experience you could earn between $30,000 and $65,000. Those with between five and ten years experience could earn anywhere between $36,000 and $72,000. Those with over ten years experience can earn between $41,000 and $95,000.
Salaries by Certification
According to over 3000 responses to PayScale surveys for varying network administrator titles, there is no significant differences in salary from one type of certification to another. Administrators with Cisco (CCNA and CCNA), Microsoft (MCP and MCSE), and Comptia A+ certifications generally earn between $30,000 and $77,000. Those who describe themselves as a Senior Network Administrator generally earn between $43,000 and $50,000 on the low end of the scale and between $84,000 and $100,000 on the high end, regardless of which certifications they have.
Outlook to 2020
In 2010 there were approximately 347,200 network administrator positions in the United States. the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects this to grow by 28 percent to about 443,800 positions by 2020. The healthcare industry should be a growing market for these positions as hospitals and other healthcare institutions continue to increase their usage of computer network technologies.