Computer and Mathematical Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 15-1244

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

The published band from $62,640 to $155,050 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Database Architects.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Network and Computer Systems Administrators: Database Architects ($140K) , Computer Programmers ($100K) , Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers ($104K) , Information Security Analysts ($129K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Network and Computer Systems Administrators publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 15-1244 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications…
  2. 2. Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations
  3. 3. Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when neces…
  4. 4. Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software
  5. 5. Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use
  6. 6. Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future
  7. 7. Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware
  8. 8. Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement
  9. 9. Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom…
  10. 10. Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems
  11. 11. Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes
  12. 12. Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software

Network and Computer Systems Administrators: O*NET ranks Reading Comprehension first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 15-1244 - lead skill Reading Comprehension at 3.9 ; lead knowledge Computers and Electronics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Reading Comprehension 3.9
  2. 2. Critical Thinking 3.9
  3. 3. Judgment and Decision Making 3.9
  4. 4. Systems Analysis 3.9
  5. 5. Active Listening 3.8
  6. 6. Monitoring 3.8
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 3.8
  8. 8. Troubleshooting 3.8

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Computers and Electronics 4.9
  2. 2. English Language 3.8
  3. 3. Customer and Personal Service 3.6
  4. 4. Engineering and Technology 3.6
  5. 5. Telecommunications 3.2
  6. 6. Mathematics 3.2
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$62,640 to $155,050
median $99,130 · ~2.5× spread
$99K
National median
↓ -4%
Growth 2024-2034
14,300
Annual openings
314,340
Estimated US jobs
Database Architects
Highest-pay peer · $140K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Bachelor's degree

Top Paying States for Network and Computer Systems Administrators

1. Maryland $118,290
2. Nevada $103,440
3. New Jersey $116,420
4. New York $105,810
5. Connecticut $105,880
6. Virginia $109,610
7. California $106,440
8. Massachusetts $110,980
9. Washington $103,910
10. District of Columbia $110,970

Other Computer and Mathematical Occupations titles

  1. 1. Database Architects $139,500
  2. 2. Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers $104,300
  3. 3. Computer Programmers $100,390
  4. 4. Information Security Analysts $129,180
  5. 5. Computer Occupations, All Other $116,580
  6. 6. Computer Network Architects $134,050

The OEWS band for Network and Computer Systems Administrators runs from $62,640 (10th) to $155,050 (90th), about 2.5× wide, with median $99,130. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect -4% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 14,300 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Maryland at $118,290. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Database Architects at $139,500. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators pay-rank #16 in Computer and Mathematical Occupations

On the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table (21 detailed occupations with OEWS medians), Network and Computer Systems Administrators lands at #16, in the lower third. That rank is a table position, not a statement about individual workers.

Other lower-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Network and Computer Systems Administrators is unusually wide, so the state map and peer comparison carry more signal than the median alone.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 15-1244

Maryland · top state for Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$118K published median

Nevada · #2 state pay

$103K · behind Maryland

Database Architects

Highest-pay peer vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators · $140K

Computer Programmers

Lower-pay peer beside Network and Computer Systems Administrators · $100K

Compare Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Network and Computer Systems Administrators with another occupation →

Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Network and Computer Systems Administrators land on the Computer and Mathematical Occupations median table? ▼
Network and Computer Systems Administrators is pay-rank #16 of 21 in this major group, lower third of the median table. Closest lower-third titles: Computer Programmers ($100K), Web Developers ($93K), Operations Research Analysts ($89K), Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other ($81K). That position is a table rank, not a worker percentile.
What do network and computer systems administrators do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Network and Computer Systems Administrators. Leading ones include: Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications…; Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations; Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when neces…; Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for network and computer systems administrators? ▼
For SOC 15-1244, O*NET importance scores lead with Reading Comprehension (3.9), Critical Thinking (3.9), Judgment and Decision Making (3.9), Systems Analysis (3.9). Knowledge areas emphasize Computers and Electronics, English Language, Customer and Personal Service. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How wide is the published pay band for Network and Computer Systems Administrators? ▼
OEWS places the 10th percentile at $62,640 and the 90th at $155,050 for Network and Computer Systems Administrators (2.5× spread). The national median is $99,130. OEWS does not isolate experience, employer, or geography as the cause of that spread.
What employment change does BLS publish for Network and Computer Systems Administrators? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Network and Computer Systems Administrators is -4%. Projected annual openings: about 14,300. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Network and Computer Systems Administrators? ▼
BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Network and Computer Systems Administrators. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Network and Computer Systems Administrators? ▼
Maryland ($118,290), Nevada ($103,440), New Jersey ($116,420) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Network and Computer Systems Administrators card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 15-1244. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Network and Computer Systems Administrators. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics