Last updated: August 2026
Network administrators earn a median annual salary of $99,130. The middle 50% earn between $78,010 and $126,640. The highest-paid 10% network admins earn more than $155,050.
| Pay Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,640 | $30.11 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,010 | $37.51 |
| Median | $99,130 | $47.66 |
| 75th Percentile | $126,640 | $60.89 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,050 | $74.55 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 wage data via O*NET
Network Administrator Salary by Experience
Robert Half groups this role as Network/Cloud Administrator. Its 2026 starting salaries range from $88,500 for newer candidates to $126,500 for those with deeper skill sets and experience.
| Candidate Level | 2026 Starting Salary |
|---|---|
| Limited experience / developing skills | $88,500 |
| Moderate experience / meets most requirements | $108,250 |
| Extensive experience / advanced skills | $126,500 |
Source: Robert Half 2026 Network/Cloud Administrator Salaries
Related Network & Cloud Salary Ranges
Network administration overlaps with systems, cloud and engineering work, especially on smaller teams. Here is how several nearby roles compare in Robert Half's 2026 salary data.
| Job Title | 2026 Starting Salary Range |
|---|---|
| NOC Technician | $60,500 – $92,750 |
| Systems Administrator | $80,250 – $118,000 |
| Network/Cloud Engineer | $110,000 – $155,000 |
| Network/Cloud Manager | $114,750 – $166,750 |
| Wireless Network Engineer | $118,000 – $168,500 |
| Network/Cloud Architect | $139,250 – $202,250 |
Source: Robert Half 2026 Network & Cloud Salaries
Network Administrator Salary by State
Network administrator pay shifts quite a bit by location. This table compares state medians with the $99,130 U.S. median wage.
| State | Median Salary | vs. U.S. Median |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $81,400 | -18% |
| Alaska | $97,500 | -2% |
| Arizona | $90,280 | -9% |
| Arkansas | $81,590 | -18% |
| California | $106,440 | +7% |
| Colorado | $103,370 | +4% |
| Connecticut | $105,880 | +7% |
| Delaware | $94,200 | -5% |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | +12% |
| Florida | $95,200 | -4% |
| Georgia | $97,170 | -2% |
| Hawaii | $101,450 | +2% |
| Idaho | $91,880 | -7% |
| Illinois | $100,080 | +1% |
| Indiana | $84,550 | -15% |
| Iowa | $84,500 | -15% |
| Kansas | $83,340 | -16% |
| Kentucky | $87,020 | -12% |
| Louisiana | $90,160 | -9% |
| Maine | $83,890 | -15% |
| Maryland | $118,290 | +19% |
| Massachusetts | $110,980 | +12% |
| Michigan | $92,750 | -6% |
| Minnesota | $101,870 | +3% |
| Mississippi | $79,990 | -19% |
| Missouri | $80,870 | -18% |
| Montana | $80,950 | -18% |
| Nebraska | $84,700 | -15% |
| Nevada | $103,440 | +4% |
| New Hampshire | $100,230 | +1% |
| New Jersey | $116,420 | +17% |
| New Mexico | $90,790 | -8% |
| New York | $105,810 | +7% |
| North Carolina | $95,230 | -4% |
| North Dakota | $86,450 | -13% |
| Ohio | $97,570 | -2% |
| Oklahoma | $83,990 | -15% |
| Oregon | $102,000 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania | $86,140 | -13% |
| Rhode Island | $103,100 | +4% |
| South Carolina | $92,520 | -7% |
| South Dakota | $75,010 | -24% |
| Tennessee | $88,100 | -11% |
| Texas | $101,240 | +2% |
| Utah | $95,820 | -3% |
| Vermont | $86,020 | -13% |
| Virginia | $109,610 | +11% |
| Washington | $103,910 | +5% |
| West Virginia | $74,490 | -25% |
| Wisconsin | $83,650 | -16% |
| Wyoming | $75,220 | -24% |
| United States | $99,130 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. “vs. U.S. Median” is calculated by ITCareerFinder from BLS median wage data.
In-Demand Network Administrator Skills
Today's network administration jobs go well beyond routers and switches. Current postings call for operating systems, directory services, cloud platforms, scripting and security tools.
| Skill | Share of Job Postings |
|---|---|
| Linux | 23% |
| Microsoft Active Directory | 18% |
| Microsoft Windows Server | 14% |
| Microsoft Azure | 13% |
| Microsoft PowerShell | 12% |
| Firewall software | 12% |
| Python | 11% |
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 10% |
| SQL | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 7% |
| Ansible | 7% |
| UNIX | 7% |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux | 7% |
| Bash | 7% |
| ServiceNow | 6% |
| Microsoft SharePoint | 6% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 5% |
Linux appears in 23% of postings, followed by Active Directory at 18% and Windows Server at 14%. Azure, PowerShell, Python and AWS show how much modern network administration overlaps cloud computing and automation.
Source: O*NET In-Demand Skills for Network and Computer Systems Administrators, based on Lightcast U.S. job postings from January through December 2025.
