Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Overview

Network and Computer Systems Administrators has a national median salary of $99,130 per year, with -4.1% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Working Conditions
• Support
• Achievement

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
• Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
• Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
• Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Processing Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Detailed Work Activities

• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Network and Computer Systems Administrators:

Video Resources