Network Administrator Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

Network administrator salaries vary based on experience, industry, certifications obtained, and location. Explore key facts:

• Network administrators enjoy robust earning potential, achieving a median salary of $96,800 [1].

• Network admins are responsible for installing network hardware and software specific to your organization’s needs.

• You can earn more as a network administrator based on factors such as completing a higher level of education or working for a company that offers higher pay.

Discover how factors like education, experience, industry, location, and the company you work for can impact your salary in this field. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Akamai Network Engineering Professional Certificate. In just three months, you’ll have the opportunity to master the most up-to-date practical skills and knowledge that network operations engineers use in their daily roles. Upon completion, add this shareable credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a network administrator?

A network administrator operates the computer networks needed for companies and organizations. In this role, you’re responsible for installing network hardware and software specific to your organization’s needs, maintaining network security, and adding users to the network.

Daily tasks that you may need to do as a network administrator include:

• Evaluate computer networks to ensure they’re running smoothly

• Recommend upgrades to optimize the system’s performance

• Troubleshoot any problems that occur with the network

Read more: Your Guide to System Administration Degrees

How much does a computer network administrator make?

Network administrators in the US make a median annual income of $96,800, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. Various other job listing sites report the average annual base pay for network administrators. Check out how they compare in the chart below, which outlines the salaries calculated by the BLS and three other reputable organizations that track network administrator salaries:

*All salary data as of October 2025.

The exact pay you can expect to earn is typically influenced by your education, experience, location, and more.

Factors that affect network administrator salary

Factors such as your previous experience in network administration or your education level can boost your potential earnings. Your company's location can also impact your salary, including the role’s demand in a particular area or the cost of living. Additionally, some industry sectors will earn more than others depending on your particular interests or specialties in the field.

Network administrator salary by education

Most organizations require network administrators to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like computer and information technology or computer network administration. Some employers may accept an associate degree or a postsecondary certificate.

Explore the average network administrator salaries in the US based on education level, according to Zippia [2]:

• Associate degree: $70,407

• Bachelor's degree: $75,797

• Master's degree: $77,829

Is a network administrator a high-paying IT job?

Comparing the average annual income of a network administrator—$96,800, per BLS data—to the national average can help you determine whether this position is a high-paying option [1]. BLS reports that general computer occupations have a median annual salary of $105,990, slightly higher than that of a network administrator [5].

However, compared to the national average, a network administrator earns considerably more. Data from the BLS reveals the national median salary is $49,500 [5].

How certifications impact network administrator salaries

Your employer can also require you to earn certifications based on the products you use as a network administrator. You can enroll in certification programs directly through the vendor or with a certification program not affiliated with a vendor.

Specific certifications include Cisco certifications for data administration or networking. You can also get certified in system administration or as a network technology associate. Consider some of the following certifications that can help boost a network administrator's salary. The figures represent average annual base pay, according to Payscale:

• Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking: $77,000 [6]

• CompTIA Network+: $81,000 [7]

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): $93,000 [8]

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security: $100,000 [9]

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): $111,000 [10]

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): $145,000 [11]

Network administration salary by level of experience

Your previous experience as a network administrator can affect your salary, as more experience can generally lead to a higher annual income. According to Glassdoor, the estimated median total salaries* you can expect based on your years of experience include [3]:

• 0–1 year: $76,000

• 1–3 years: $82,000

• 4–6 years: $93,000

• 7–9 years: $97,000

• 10–14 years: $102,000

• 15 or more years: $112,000

*These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Network admin salary by location

The cost of living and regional factors of where you live can affect your network administrator salary. Take a look at the five top-paying states and districts for network administrators based on data collected by the BLS, along with the mean salary for each location [12]:

• Maryland: $122,000

• District of Columbia: $118,910

• California: $114,500

• Virginia: $113,980

• New Jersey: $111,440

Cities that have higher earnings will typically have a more expensive cost of living. You can earn more if you live in these areas or are willing to relocate. San Francisco and the surrounding areas in California are at the top of the list for areas with the highest pay for network administrators [12]:

• San Francisco

• Oakland

• Fremont

• San Jose

• Sunnyvale

• Santa Clara

Expect an average annual wage of $132,180 in the San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara area. The San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward area has an estimated $133,560 in average annual income [12].

As a network administrator working in the DC metropolitan area, which includes Washington, DC, Alexandria, and Arlington in Virginia, you can expect to earn an average annual wage of $124,920 [12].

Network administrator salary by industry

The industry you work in can also influence your salary. The following five industries are the highest-paying for network administrators, according to Glassdoor. Note that these median salaries include additional compensation in their figures, such as stocks, cash, bonuses, and other benefits, along with base pay [3]:

• Aerospace and defense: $102,965

• Construction, repair, and maintenance services: $97,803

• Telecommunications: $93,619

• Management and consulting: $93,535

• Health care: $92,541

Network administrator skills and salary

Certain technical and workplace skills can help boost your salary and resume. Technical skills are those that represent the practical aspects of your role, while workplace skills contribute to how productive you are in a work environment.

Technical skills to cultivate:

• Understanding switches and routers 

• Knowing the configuration and administration of servers 

• Troubleshooting and fixing network issues

Workplace skills to develop:

• Problem-solving

• Communication

• Collaborating with fellow team members 

• Multi-tasking to set up and monitor servers

Network administrator salary by company

Another factor that can impact how much you earn is the company you work for. According to Glassdoor, some of the highest-paying companies and their corresponding median total salaries (which include base salaries plus additional compensation, such as bonuses or profit sharing) include the following [3]:

• Workday: $128,000 to $211,000

• NVIDIA: $139,000 to $218,000

• Arista Networks: $129,000 to $201,000

• Syclo: $120,000 to $186,000

• Pacific Gas and Electric: $123,000 to $168,000

• BankORION: $113,000 to $179,000

• Rivian: $111,000 to $175,000

• A10 Networks: $112,000 to $170,000

• Equinix: $106,000 to $171,000

• NetApp: $109,000 to $163,000

Network administrator positions: Job outlook

The BLS expects network administrator positions to decline by 4 percent from 2024 to 2034 [13]. It expects companies and organizations to still have around 14,300 new job openings each year for these roles during that time. The BLS also expects some responsibilities to be outsourced to companies that focus on network-as-a-service or automated tasks.

The good news is that as companies continue to grow and organizations adapt to newer technology, mobile networks, and an increase in cloud computing, the BLS expects general computer occupations to grow 9 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is a promising sign for the IT field in general [13].

Explore career growth resources

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn for industry tips, trends, and the opportunity to network with other professionals. Then, discover free, digital resources for your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: Should You Consider a Career in IT? A Quick Intro 

• Take a quiz: Cybersecurity Career Quiz: Is It Right for You? Find Your Role

• Learn from experts: The Ultimate Course on Problem-Solving: Professor Sriram Sankaranarayanan Talks Algorithms

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