Work Environment
Network and computer systems administrators held about 350,300 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of network and computer systems administrators were as follows:
- Computer systems design and related services - 19%
- Educational services; state, local, and private - 10%
- Information - 10%
- Finance and insurance - 10%
- Management of companies and enterprises - 7%
Although many network and computer systems administrators are employed by firms in the computer systems design and related services industry, they work in a variety of settings. Some might administer systems and networks for financial firms, and others work in hospitals or local government offices.
Network and computer systems administrators work with many types of workers, including other 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. Organizations depend on their computer networks, so administrators may need to work overtime to ensure that the networks are operating properly around the clock.
Job Outlook
Employment of network and computer systems administrators is projected to grow 5 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 24,900 openings for network and computer systems administrators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most 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
Demand for information technology (IT) workers should continue to grow as firms invest in newer, faster technology and mobile networks. Employment growth also is expected as the use of IT in healthcare increases. However, an increase in cloud computing could raise the productivity of network administrators, slowing their employment growth across many industries.
Earnings
The median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators was $80,600 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $49,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $130,830.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for network and computer systems administrators in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Management of companies and enterprises - $98,320
- Finance and insurance - $96,860
- Information - $94,980
- Computer systems design and related services - $83,760
- Educational services; state, local, and private - $77,620
Most network and computer systems administrators work full time. Organizations depend on their computer networks, so administrators may need to work overtime to ensure that the networks are operating properly around the clock.
