Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Using computers, software, digital systems, and technology to complete work and solve problems.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Examining information carefully, recognizing patterns, and using evidence to reach sound conclusions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Network and Computer Systems Administrator Administrators need analytical skills to ensure that networks and systems perform reliably. To enter the occupation, network and computer systems administrators typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field related to computer or information science. Others may require a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s degree.
Education
Some employers require a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree. However, network and computer systems administrators typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering. These programs usually include courses in computer programming, networking, and systems design. Network and computer systems administrators need to keep up with developments in the constantly changing field of information technology (IT). They may continue to take courses throughout their careers and attend IT conferences to keep up with the latest technology.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Employers may require their network and computer systems administrators to be certified in the products they use. Certification programs usually are offered directly from vendors or from vendor-neutral certification providers. Certification validates the knowledge and the use of best practices that are required of network and computer systems administrators. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Advancement Network administrators may advance to become computer network architects. They also may advance to managerial jobs in IT departments, such as computer and information systems managers.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of network and computer systems administrators is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 13,400 openings for network and computer systems administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Network and computer systems administrators will continue to be needed throughout the economy to maintain and upgrade computer networks. However, some of their tasks are increasingly being done by software developers focused on DevOps (development operations), and some tasks are being outsourced to companies who provide Networks-as-a-Service. Additionally, systems administrators are increasingly automating routine tasks. Network and Computer Systems Administrators Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Computer occupations 6% Total, all occupations 3% Network and computer systems administrators -4% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Network and Computer Systems Administrators Do
Network and computer systems administrators install, configure, and maintain organizations’ local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), data communication networks, operating systems, and servers.
Duties
Network and computer systems administrators typically do the following:
- Determine an organization’s network and system needs and install operating and application hardware and software
- Provide input on hardware or software for an organization's purchasing decisions
- Make needed upgrades and repairs to networks and ensure that systems are operating correctly
- Maintain network and computer system security
- Evaluate and optimize network and system performance
- Add users to a network and assign security permissions
- Train users on the organization’s network and systems
- Diagnose and resolve problems when alerted by a user or an automated monitoring system
Network and computer systems administrators may oversee both networks and systems, but they often specialize in one or the other. Network administrators typically focus on setting up and maintaining the infrastructure that connects an organization’s computers. Systems administrators set up and maintain organizations’ software and enable user access.
Network administrators install, configure, and manage computer infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and cables, that support an organization’s computer networks. These networks include Local Area Networks (LANs), which connect devices in a single location, and Wide Area Networks (WANs), which connect multiple LANs or locations. They may help computer network architects design and analyze network models. Some administrators manage telecommunication networks.
Systems administrators manage an organization’s servers and desktop and mobile equipment and software. They ensure that email and data storage networks within an organization’s computer system work properly. They install and configure software and system updates and monitor system performance to ensure that employees’ workstations are efficient.
Some administrators provide technical support to users, such as when computer support specialists are unable to resolve a problem.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Network and computer systems administrators held about 323,600 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of network and computer systems administrators were as follows:
| Computer systems design and related services | 16% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 13 |
| Finance and insurance | 9 |
| Information | 7 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 |
Network and computer systems administrators are employed by a variety of organizations and work in a variety of settings. In addition to those shown in the table, top employers also include manufacturing industries, healthcare providers, and government agencies.
Network and computer systems administrators often collaborate with many types of information technology (IT) workers, such as computer support specialists, database administrators, computer network architects, and computer and information systems managers.
Work Schedules
Most network and computer systems administrators work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Administrators may need to work evenings, nights, or weekends to monitor, maintain, or update networks and systems.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as organizations’ needs change. Communication skills. Administrators should be able to explain technical concepts and processes to non-IT workers. Creative skills. Administrators may need to take an innovative approach to make networks or systems work, such as when integrating new products with existing hardware or software. Multitasking skills. Administrators may have to work on many tasks at the same time, whether setup, monitoring, or troubleshooting. Problem-solving skills. Administrators must be able to resolve problems that arise with computer networks and systems. Technical skills. Administrators need programming skills and the ability to work with a variety of computer hardware and software.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about network and computer systems administrators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.