In challenging economic times, organizations retain and hire network administrators to maximize production from existing systems. In a robust economy, businesses invest in new computing and telecommunications systems (and the network administrators who support them) to solidify infrastructure and spur a competitive advantage. This consistent demand for networking specialists, independent of economic conditions, has made network administration more "recession proof" than other IT roles. However, recent technological advancements in cloud computing, virtualization, and mobility have decreased companies' reliance on traditional network systems and personnel; make sure you are skilled and certified in these domains to boost your network administration salary and job outlook in today's workforce.
Here is a dynamic look at the network administrator salary landscape, featuring trends and data from the latest salary surveys and unbiased sources. Use our job search and education tools to maximize your own network administrator salary, and explore the network administrator career path for a deep dive into this field.
Network Administration Training
Historic Network Administrator Salaries
Average salary ranges for network administrators, network managers and related professionals from 2018 to 2020:
| Job Title | 2018 Salary | 2019 Salary | 2020 Salary | 2-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network Administrator | $73,250 - $123,250 | $74,750 - $126,750 | $76,250 - $129,500 | + 4.7% |
| Network Engineer | $90,000 - $151,750 | $92,000 - $154,250 | $94,750 - $159,000 | + 5.0% |
| Network Architect | $112,750 - $190,000 | $114,000 - $195,000 | $117,500 - $196,250 | + 3.6% |
| Network Manager | $93,500 - $157,250 | $94,750 - $162,000 | $97,500 - $169,750 | + 6.6% |
| Wireless Network Engineer | $100,000 - $168,750 | $102,000 - $173,500 | $105,000 - $178,750 | + 5.6% |
 | Sources: Robert Half Technology 2018, 2019 and 2020 IT Salary Guides |
Skills To Boost Your Network Admin Salary
Master these sought-after skills and platforms to command higher pay as a network administrator:
- Cisco networking tools and Cisco certifications
- Microsoft Windows 10 administration
- Linux and Unix systems administration
- Desktop & server virtualization
- Cloud engineering skills
- Related emerging technologies inc. artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G networking
Network Administrator Salaries by State
| U.S. State / Location | Average Annual Wage | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | $76,370 | $36.72 |
Alaska | $82,980 | $39.89 |
Arizona | $85,850 | $41.27 |
Arkansas | $65,220 | $31.36 |
California | $97,810 | $47.02 |
Colorado | $84,170 | $40.46 |
Connecticut | $93,230 | $44.82 |
Delaware | $80,990 | $38.94 |
District of Columbia | $99,920 | $48.04 |
Florida | $79,070 | $38.02 |
Georgia | $86,910 | $41.78 |
Hawaii | $86,530 | $41.60 |
Idaho | $66,930 | $32.18 |
Illinois | $86,290 | $41.49 |
Indiana | $75,500 | $36.30 |
Iowa | $74,940 | $36.03 |
Kansas | $75,940 | $36.51 |
Kentucky | $64,320 | $30.92 |
Louisiana | $68,380 | $32.87 |
Maine | $76,780 | $36.91 |
Maryland | $108,190 | $52.01 |
Massachusetts | $91,470 | $43.98 |
Michigan | $77,580 | $37.30 |
Minnesota | $85,620 | $41.16 |
Mississippi | $75,000 | $36.06 |
Missouri | $82,160 | $39.50 |
Montana | $64,780 | $31.14 |
Nebraska | $78,620 | $37.80 |
Nevada | $84,330 | $40.54 |
New Hampshire | $87,720 | $42.18 |
New Jersey | $99,070 | $47.63 |
New Mexico | $76,700 | $36.87 |
New York | $94,940 | $45.64 |
North Carolina | $84,870 | $40.80 |
North Dakota | $71,180 | $34.22 |
Ohio | $80,500 | $38.70 |
Oklahoma | $73,130 | $35.16 |
Oregon | $82,020 | $39.44 |
Pennsylvania | $77,700 | $37.36 |
Puerto Rico | $47,000 | $22.59 |
Rhode Island | $90,600 | $43.56 |
South Carolina | $75,630 | $36.36 |
South Dakota | $62,420 | $30.01 |
Tennessee | $80,030 | $38.48 |
Texas | $89,500 | $43.03 |
Utah | $81,430 | $39.15 |
Vermont | $75,170 | $36.14 |
Virginia | $93,860 | $45.13 |
Washington | $92,750 | $44.59 |
West Virginia | $68,980 | $33.16 |
Wisconsin | $75,320 | $36.21 |
Wyoming | $66,340 | $31.89 |
 | Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) |
Network Administrator Salaries by Specialty
Compare network admin earnings by IT certifications held, career role specialization, and experience level.
- Junior Network Administrator: $50,000
- Network Administrator: $65,000
- Microsoft Network Admin: $71,000
- Network Designer: $81,000
- Cisco Network Administrator: $82,000
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): $84,000
- Firewall Administrator: $85,000
- Network Engineer: $86,000
- Cisco Network Engineer: $89,000
- Network Maintenance Specialist: $90,000
- Network Security Administrator: $91,000
- Senior Network Engineer: $95,000
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): $97,000
- Senior Network Security Engineer: $100,000
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): $120,000
- Network Administration Lead: $123,000
| | Source: Indeed.com |
Networking Salaries vs. Other IT Disciplines
Average salary for network administrators and other popular technology roles.
- Technology Manager: $142,063
- Systems Architect: $129,952
- Product Manager: $114,174
- DevOps Engineer: $111,683
- Software Engineer: $110,989
- Hardware Engineer: $110,972
- IT Project Manager: $110,925
- Cyber Security Engineer: $110,716
- Applications Developer: $105,202
- Security Analyst: $103,597
- Database Administrator: $103,473
- Data Scientist: $95,404
- Business Analyst: $94,926
- Computer Programmer: $91,404
- Network Engineer: $88,280
- Web Developer: $82,765
- Systems Administrator: $82,624
- Technical Support: $60,600
- Help Desk Technician: $45,709
- PC Service & Repair: $41,310
| Source: 2019 Technology Salary Report by Dice.com |
Network Administration Training
Regardless of your industry or location, network administration is a high-demand profession offering significant advancement opportunities, solid earning potential and protection against economic conditions. Start on your path to a lucrative network administrator salary today; browse our directory of network administration training programs and connect with an experienced educational consultant to build your ideal network administration learning plan.
Network Admin Career Resources
- Network administrator in-depth job description
- Network administrator education requirements
- Network administration courses and degrees
- Network administrator career outlook
- Network administrator IT certifications
Web-based Network Administrator salary data refreshed annually.
Salary survey data updated annually upon release dates.