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 shore up infrastructure and spark a competitive advantage. This consistent demand for networking specialists, independent of economic conditions, has made network administration more "recession proof" than other IT careers. However, recent technological advancements in cloud computing, virtualization and mobility have decreased companies' reliance on traditional network systems and personnel, so make sure you're skilled and certified in these emerging 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 lucrative field.
Find Network Administration Training
Historic Network Administrator Salaries
Average salary ranges for network administrators and related professionals for the past 3 years:
| Job Title | 2020 Salary | 2021 Salary | 2022 Salary | 2-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network Administrator | $76,250 - $110,250 | $78,500 - $113,500 | $79,750 - $115,750 | + 4.8% |
| Network / Cloud Engineer | $94,750 - $134,500 | $97,500 - $138,500 | $101,000 - $140,750 | + 5.5% |
| Network / Cloud Architect | $117,500 - $169,500 | $12,1000 - $174,500 | $125,250 - $180,500 | + 6.5% |
| Network / Cloud Manager | $97,500 - $141,750 | $100,500 - $146,000 | $104,250 - $151,000 | + 6.7% |
| Wireless Network Engineer | $105,000 - $148,750 | $108,250 - $153,250 | $111,500 - $158,250 | + 6.3% |
Historic salary table note: Salary ranges represent the national average. The lower figure in each range represents the 25th percentile of salary survey respondents (typically those with less experience or working in a less competitive job market) while the higher figure represents the 75th percentile (those with more experience, relevant networking skills and certifications).
Sources: Robert Half Technology 2020, 2021 & 2022 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 certifications and network management skills
- Microsoft Windows 10/11 administration
- Linux and Unix systems administration
- Desktop & server virtualization
- Wireless network engineering
- Cloud engineering skills
- Hot and 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 | $79,260 | $38.11 |
Alaska | $87,240 | $41.94 |
Arizona | $87,900 | $42.26 |
Arkansas | $72,510 | $34.86 |
California | $105,770 | $50.85 |
Colorado | $93,550 | $44.98 |
Connecticut | $98,740 | $47.47 |
Delaware | $83,520 | $40.16 |
District of Columbia | $104,490 | $50.24 |
Florida | $81,840 | $39.34 |
Georgia | $90,450 | $43.49 |
Hawaii | $89,640 | $43.09 |
Idaho | $76,600 | $36.83 |
Illinois | $91,930 | $44.20 |
Indiana | $80,350 | $38.63 |
Iowa | $84,060 | $40.41 |
Kansas | $80,920 | $38.91 |
Kentucky | $72,380 | $34.80 |
Louisiana | $74,400 | $35.77 |
Maine | $79,160 | $38.06 |
Maryland | $106,480 | $51.19 |
Massachusetts | $102,990 | $49.51 |
Michigan | $82,180 | $39.51 |
Minnesota | $90,340 | $43.43 |
Mississippi | $71,730 | $34.48 |
Missouri | $85,760 | $41.23 |
Montana | $81,370 | $39.12 |
Nebraska | $85,280 | $41.00 |
Nevada | $91,380 | $43.93 |
New Hampshire | $91,710 | $44.09 |
New Jersey | $108,860 | $52.34 |
New Mexico | $82,650 | $39.74 |
New York | $102,480 | $49.27 |
North Carolina | $87,000 | $41.83 |
North Dakota | $82,720 | $39.77 |
Ohio | $86,910 | $41.78 |
Oklahoma | $77,810 | $37.41 |
Oregon | $93,180 | $44.8 |
Pennsylvania | $74,570 | $35.85 |
Puerto Rico | $47,770 | $22.97 |
Rhode Island | $93,220 | $44.82 |
South Carolina | $83,810 | $40.29 |
South Dakota | $68,900 | $33.13 |
Tennessee | $79,370 | $38.16 |
Texas | $89,630 | $43.09 |
Utah | $89,720 | $43.13 |
Vermont | $77,120 | $37.08 |
Virginia | $98,810 | $47.50 |
Washington | $96,490 | $46.39 |
West Virginia | $71,530 | $34.39 |
Wisconsin | $80,280 | $38.60 |
Wyoming | $73,790 | $35.47 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Network Administrator Salaries by Specialty
Compare network admin earnings by IT certifications held, job role specialization and experience level:
- Junior Network Administrator: $74,000
- Network Administrator: $82,000
- Cisco Network Administrator: $84,000
- Network Security Administrator: $96,000
- Network Designer: $97,000
- Cisco Network Engineer: $98,000
- Network Engineer: $99,000
- Network Administration Lead: $103,000
- Senior Network Administrator: $113,000
- Network Security Engineer: $118,000
- Network Manager: $130,000
- Network Architect: $136,000
Source: Glassdoor.com
Networking Salaries vs. Other IT Disciplines
Compare the average salary for network administrators and related professionals to popular technology roles:
- Network Architect: $147,901
- Cloud Engineer: $140,571
- Cyber Security Engineer: $135,059
- Software Developer: $120,204
- DevOps Engineer: $119,201
- IT Project Manager: $118,517
- Systems Engineer: $112,407
- Database Administrator: $111,362
- Cyber Security Analyst: $102,253
- User Interface Designer: $101,260
- Network Administrator: $93,373
- Application Support Engineer: $91,176
- Systems Administrator: $88,642
- Technical Support Engineer: $77,169
- Help Desk Technician: $52,259
Source: 2022 Technology Salary Report by Dice.com
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.
