Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Network and Computer Systems Administrators (SOC 15-1244) earn a median $99,130 a year ($47.66 an hour) in the United States, with 314,340 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Maryland.
What network and computer systems administrators do
Network and computer systems administrators keep an organization's networks, servers, and operating systems running. They install, configure, and maintain local area networks, wide area networks, data communications networks, and physical and virtual servers. Administrators monitor performance and check that hardware, networks, and servers are intact and available. They diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and network problems, back up data and carry out disaster recovery, and configure and maintain email applications and virus protection. Their work includes controlling user access and managing system resources. Titles include systems administrator, network administrator, and application systems administrator. The occupation differs from computer network architects, who design networks, from computer network support specialists, who troubleshoot networks but have narrower duties, and from database administrators, who focus on data systems. Computer user support specialists help end users. Information security analysts concentrate on protection. They also operate master consoles to monitor system performance, analyze equipment performance records to decide on repair or replacement, and plan and implement network security measures.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Administrator (Admin), AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist), Application Security Administrator, Application Systems Administrator, Computer Systems Security Administrator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $30.11 | $37.51 | $47.66 | $60.89 | $74.55 | $49.85 | 314,340 |
| Annual | $62,640 | $78,010 | $99,130 | $126,640 | $155,050 | $103,680 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where network and computer systems administrators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $34.61 | $43.70 | $56.87 | $75.17 | $85.44 | $59.41 | 9,230 | 3.34 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $71,990 | $90,900 | $118,290 | $156,360 | $177,720 | $123,570 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.57 | $43.48 | $55.97 | $66.34 | $80.14 | $57.40 | 9,280 | 2.17 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $73,990 | $90,440 | $116,420 | $137,990 | $166,690 | $119,390 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $36.90 | $44.21 | $53.36 | $65.78 | $81.21 | $56.84 | 8,270 | 2.27 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $76,750 | $91,950 | $110,980 | $136,810 | $168,910 | $118,240 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $38.87 | $47.35 | $53.35 | $65.88 | $72.40 | $56.21 | 1,320 | 1.88 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $80,850 | $98,480 | $110,970 | $137,030 | $150,580 | $116,920 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $33.45 | $40.13 | $52.70 | $65.61 | $81.78 | $55.83 | 12,430 | 3.02 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $69,580 | $83,480 | $109,610 | $136,480 | $170,110 | $116,130 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $30.60 | $38.26 | $48.67 | $61.61 | $74.73 | $50.43 | 34,840 | 2.48 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $63,650 | $79,570 | $101,240 | $128,140 | $155,430 | $104,900 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $28.53 | $35.48 | $45.77 | $56.95 | $68.82 | $46.85 | 26,890 | 2.71 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $59,340 | $73,800 | $95,200 | $118,450 | $143,140 | $97,460 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $34.81 | $42.64 | $51.18 | $64.52 | $80.16 | $55.39 | 26,170 | 1.44 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $72,400 | $88,680 | $106,440 | $134,190 | $166,730 | $115,210 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $33.62 | $40.21 | $50.87 | $64.61 | $80.20 | $54.76 | 18,220 | 1.88 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $69,930 | $83,630 | $105,810 | $134,390 | $166,810 | $113,900 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $29.89 | $37.50 | $46.91 | $61.99 | $69.13 | $48.93 | 15,130 | 2.73 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $62,170 | $77,990 | $97,570 | $128,930 | $143,780 | $101,770 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $37.76 | $49.36 | $64.12 | $80.63 | $95.60 | $65.58 | 2,460 | 2.17 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $78,530 | $102,680 | $133,360 | $167,710 | $198,860 | $136,400 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $39.79 | $48.49 | $62.34 | $78.63 | $92.91 | $64.46 | 3,910 | 1.65 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $82,760 | $100,850 | $129,680 | $163,550 | $193,250 | $134,080 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $37.71 | $47.43 | $60.30 | $73.66 | $86.71 | $60.73 | 9,920 | 3.17 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $78,450 | $98,650 | $125,430 | $153,220 | $180,360 | $126,330 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $35.78 | $45.35 | $59.11 | $76.66 | $92.38 | $60.93 | 4,620 | 3.41 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $74,430 | $94,320 | $122,950 | $159,450 | $192,160 | $126,740 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.45 | $46.14 | $57.40 | $68.47 | $82.44 | $58.94 | 17,690 | 1.86 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $75,810 | $95,980 | $119,390 | $142,410 | $171,470 | $122,580 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.45 | $46.14 | $57.40 | $68.47 | $82.44 | $58.94 | 17,690 | 1.86 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $75,810 | $95,980 | $119,390 | $142,410 | $171,470 | $122,580 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $32.11 | $38.94 | $49.64 | $62.73 | $76.02 | $51.93 | 11,740 | 2.90 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $66,780 | $80,990 | $103,260 | $130,470 | $158,120 | $108,020 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $37.71 | $47.43 | $60.30 | $73.66 | $86.71 | $60.73 | 9,920 | 3.17 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $78,450 | $98,650 | $125,430 | $153,220 | $180,360 | $126,330 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $34.07 | $41.43 | $51.10 | $63.12 | $76.80 | $53.86 | 8,770 | 1.40 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $70,870 | $86,170 | $106,290 | $131,290 | $159,750 | $112,030 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $33.17 | $39.78 | $49.60 | $62.56 | $78.02 | $52.34 | 6,950 | 1.54 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $68,990 | $82,750 | $103,170 | $130,120 | $162,290 | $108,870 | ||||
Top industries employing network and computer systems administrators
Computer Systems Design and Related Services employ 16.4% of network and computer systems administrators nationally (51,700 jobs) at a median $101,560 a year ($48.83 an hour), followed by Management of Companies and Enterprises (7.5%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (5.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 51,700 | 16.4% | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 23,490 | 7.5% | $103,810 | $49.91 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 17,500 | 5.6% | $85,750 | $41.23 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 17,260 | 5.5% | $97,430 | $46.84 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 15,530 | 4.9% | $85,570 | $41.14 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (314,340). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $80,600 for network and computer systems administrators in May 2021 and $99,130 in May 2025, with employment of 316,760 and 314,340.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $80,600 | $38.75 | 316,760 |
| May 2022 | $90,520 | $43.52 | 325,930 |
| May 2023 | $95,360 | $45.84 | 323,020 |
| May 2024 | $96,800 | $46.54 | 318,570 |
| May 2025 | $99,130 | $47.66 | 314,340 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland profile | $56.87 | $118,290 | $71,990 | $177,720 | 9,230 | 3.34 | 1.65 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $55.97 | $116,420 | $73,990 | $166,690 | 9,280 | 2.17 | 1.07 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $53.36 | $110,980 | $76,750 | $168,910 | 8,270 | 2.27 | 1.13 |
| 4 | District of Columbia profile | $53.35 | $110,970 | $80,850 | $150,580 | 1,320 | 1.88 | 0.93 |
| 5 | Virginia profile | $52.70 | $109,610 | $69,580 | $170,110 | 12,430 | 3.02 | 1.50 |
| 6 | California profile | $51.18 | $106,440 | $72,400 | $166,730 | 26,170 | 1.44 | 0.71 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $50.90 | $105,880 | $69,930 | $161,450 | 2,170 | 1.28 | 0.63 |
| 8 | New York profile | $50.87 | $105,810 | $69,930 | $166,810 | 18,220 | 1.88 | 0.93 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $49.96 | $103,910 | $67,500 | $154,620 | 8,600 | 2.42 | 1.20 |
| 10 | Nevada profile | $49.73 | $103,440 | $63,640 | $150,020 | 1,980 | 1.28 | 0.63 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $49.70 | $103,370 | $74,110 | $155,050 | 8,360 | 2.91 | 1.44 |
| 12 | Rhode Island profile | $49.57 | $103,100 | $71,200 | $154,790 | 1,060 | 2.11 | 1.05 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $49.04 | $102,000 | $72,790 | $138,210 | 4,880 | 2.48 | 1.23 |
| 14 | Minnesota profile | $48.98 | $101,870 | $69,360 | $152,760 | 4,550 | 1.54 | 0.76 |
| 15 | Hawaii profile | $48.78 | $101,450 | $72,230 | $145,790 | 1,490 | 2.37 | 1.17 |
| 16 | Texas profile | $48.67 | $101,240 | $63,650 | $155,430 | 34,840 | 2.48 | 1.22 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $48.19 | $100,230 | $73,470 | $135,240 | 1,660 | 2.44 | 1.21 |
| 18 | Illinois profile | $48.12 | $100,080 | $65,650 | $157,800 | 9,820 | 1.61 | 0.80 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $46.91 | $97,570 | $62,170 | $143,780 | 15,130 | 2.73 | 1.35 |
| 20 | Alaska profile | $46.87 | $97,500 | $68,530 | $122,410 | 920 | 2.82 | 1.39 |
| 21 | Georgia profile | $46.72 | $97,170 | $62,470 | $148,700 | 9,190 | 1.88 | 0.93 |
| 22 | Utah profile | $46.07 | $95,820 | $64,280 | $141,010 | 2,050 | 1.18 | 0.58 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $45.78 | $95,230 | $50,680 | $149,650 | 13,850 | 2.80 | 1.39 |
| 24 | Florida profile | $45.77 | $95,200 | $59,340 | $143,140 | 26,890 | 2.71 | 1.34 |
| 25 | Delaware profile | $45.29 | $94,200 | $60,530 | $144,570 | 850 | 1.76 | 0.87 |
| 26 | Michigan profile | $44.59 | $92,750 | $63,100 | $133,900 | 6,900 | 1.57 | 0.78 |
| 27 | South Carolina profile | $44.48 | $92,520 | $63,310 | $151,210 | 3,580 | 1.55 | 0.77 |
| 28 | Idaho profile | $44.17 | $91,880 | $62,970 | $133,460 | 1,010 | 1.18 | 0.58 |
| 29 | New Mexico profile | $43.65 | $90,790 | $64,100 | $125,580 | 1,220 | 1.40 | 0.69 |
| 30 | Arizona profile | $43.40 | $90,280 | $63,210 | $137,670 | 5,810 | 1.79 | 0.89 |
| 31 | Louisiana profile | $43.35 | $90,160 | $60,200 | $131,910 | 1,790 | 0.93 | 0.46 |
| 32 | Tennessee profile | $42.36 | $88,100 | $60,530 | $128,920 | 5,070 | 1.55 | 0.77 |
| 33 | Kentucky profile | $41.84 | $87,020 | $55,920 | $171,770 | 2,800 | 1.40 | 0.69 |
| 34 | North Dakota profile | $41.56 | $86,450 | $60,980 | $120,650 | 930 | 2.17 | 1.08 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania profile | $41.42 | $86,140 | $61,380 | $130,160 | 7,750 | 1.28 | 0.63 |
| 36 | Vermont profile | $41.36 | $86,020 | $66,060 | $117,460 | 560 | 1.86 | 0.92 |
| 37 | Nebraska profile | $40.72 | $84,700 | $57,350 | $136,810 | 1,560 | 1.52 | 0.75 |
| 38 | Indiana profile | $40.65 | $84,550 | $58,630 | $128,670 | 4,310 | 1.35 | 0.67 |
| 39 | Iowa profile | $40.62 | $84,500 | $59,800 | $130,530 | 3,110 | 1.99 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $40.38 | $83,990 | $59,460 | $135,420 | 2,580 | 1.51 | 0.75 |
| 41 | Maine profile | $40.33 | $83,890 | $61,530 | $121,430 | 920 | 1.44 | 0.71 |
| 42 | Wisconsin profile | $40.22 | $83,650 | $58,950 | $128,580 | 8,470 | 2.88 | 1.42 |
| 43 | Kansas profile | $40.07 | $83,340 | $58,720 | $129,910 | 4,100 | 2.85 | 1.41 |
| 44 | Arkansas profile | $39.23 | $81,590 | $52,190 | $131,140 | 1,750 | 1.34 | 0.66 |
| 45 | Alabama profile | $39.14 | $81,400 | $51,690 | $135,080 | 5,040 | 2.39 | 1.18 |
| 46 | Montana profile | $38.92 | $80,950 | $60,890 | $108,290 | 850 | 1.67 | 0.82 |
| 47 | Missouri profile | $38.88 | $80,870 | $52,190 | $129,610 | 5,810 | 1.98 | 0.98 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $38.46 | $79,990 | $51,410 | $136,950 | 1,380 | 1.18 | 0.58 |
| 49 | Wyoming profile | $36.16 | $75,220 | $52,760 | $109,860 | 610 | 2.18 | 1.08 |
| 50 | South Dakota profile | $36.06 | $75,010 | $56,640 | $107,240 | 1,690 | 3.69 | 1.83 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $35.81 | $74,490 | $53,640 | $112,410 | 1,510 | 2.15 | 1.06 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (15-1240), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-1244 Network and Computer Systems Administrators.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-1244, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-1244.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.