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.
SOC: 15-1244.00
Common Job Titles
Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist)Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator)Network AdministratorSystems Administrator
What You'll Need to Succeed
AI-generatedKey competencies for this occupation at a glance
- KnowledgeDesign network architecture and infrastructure solutions coordinating between hardware and software requirements for organizational scalability.Advanced
- KnowledgeDevelop automation scripts and system configuration tools using PowerShell, Python, Bash, and Ansible to streamline administrative tasks.Advanced
- Hands-onConfigure local area networks, wide area networks, and virtual servers using network switches, load balancers, and RAID systems to ensure optimal performance.Proficient
- KnowledgeAnalyze network and server resource consumption patterns using protocol analyzers and network monitoring tools to optimize system performance.Proficient
- KnowledgeEvaluate system and application logs for security threats and performance issues working independently to verify integrity and availability of hardware and network resources.Proficient
- KnowledgeDiagnose complex network and server failures using network analyzers and diagnostic tools under time-critical conditions.Proficient
- Hands-onOperate virtualization platforms and cloud computing environments using VMware, AWS, and Microsoft Azure to maintain physical and virtual servers.Proficient
- KnowledgeApply security controls and access management policies implementing firewall configurations, VPN protocols, and Active Directory to control user access.Proficient
- MindsetPrioritize competing system maintenance and upgrade requests balancing organizational needs with resource constraints and regulatory compliance requirements.Proficient
- Hands-onExecute system backups and disaster recovery procedures following established protocols using tape libraries and backup software.Developing
- MindsetSupport end users and technical teams during system outages and technical issues demonstrating service orientation while communicating with interdisciplinary stakeholders.Developing
- Hands-onCalibrate network performance monitoring systems using SNMP, SolarWinds, and Splunk Enterprise to establish baseline metrics.Developing
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Network and Computer Systems Administrators (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
318,570
Wage Distribution by Percentile
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $60,320 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $150,320 |
| Workers on average earn | $101,190 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Computers and Electronics4.9/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- Engineering and Technology3.6/5
- Telecommunications3.2/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
AJAXAdobe AcrobatAmazon DynamoDBAmazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2Amazon RedshiftAmazon Simple Storage Service S3Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationAmazon Web Services AWS softwareAnsible softwareApache CassandraApache HadoopApache HiveApache KafkaApache MavenApache SparkApache Subversion SVNApache TomcatApple macOSAtlassian ConfluenceAtlassian JIRABashBorder Gateway Protocol BGPCC#C++ChefCisco WebexDjangoDockerDrupalESRI ArcGIS softwareEclipse IDEElasticsearchEpic SystemsExtensible markup language XMLGitGitHubGoHibernate ORMHypertext markup language HTMLJavaScriptJavaScript Object Notation JSONLinuxMarketo Marketing AutomationMicrosoft .NET FrameworkMicrosoft ASP.NETMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active DirectoryMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft Azure softwareMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft PowerShellMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISMicrosoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRSMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft TeamsMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft Visual BasicMicrosoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAMicrosoft Visual StudioMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows ServerMongoDBMySQLNoSQLNode.jsOracle DatabaseOracle JavaOracle PL/SQLOracle PeopleSoftOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementPHPPerlPostgreSQLPuppetPythonRed Hat Enterprise LinuxRed Hat OpenShiftRubySAP softwareSASServiceNowShell scriptSplunk EnterpriseStructured query language SQLSwiftTableauTeradata DatabaseTransact-SQLUNIXUNIX ShelljQuery
Technology Skills
Access management softwareActive directory softwareAdexa eGPS SuiteAdobe ActionScriptAdobe DreamweaverAdvanced business application programming ABAPApache AntApache Groovy
Tools & Equipment
Asynchronous transfer mode ATM analyzersBit error rate testers BERTCable verifiersCommunications analyzersComputer tool kitsDesktop computersLoad balancersMainframe computers