# Network and Computer Systems Administrators

> Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/network-and-computer-systems-administrators
- SOC code: 15-1244.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $99,130 (10th percentile $62,640, 90th percentile $155,050)
- Projected growth: Decline, -4.1%
- Openings a year: 13,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 53 |
| Investigative (I) | 51 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 20 |
| Enterprising (E) | 41 |
| Conventional (C) | 86 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 96/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 78/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 75/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 68/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Troubleshooting, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Operations Monitoring

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Administrative, Engineering and Technology, Design, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Application Security Administrator, Application Systems Administrator, Computer Support Specialist, Computer Systems Security Administrator (Computer Systems Security Admin), E-Mail System Administrator (Electronic Mail System Administrator), Enterprise Systems Administrator, Hardware Installation Coordinator, Information Systems Administrator, Information Systems Operator, Internet Systems Administrator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Computer and Information Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1101) (CIP 1101, 1,547 colleges)
- [Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1110) (CIP 1110, 1,184 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $143,850 | $241,380 | $11,000 |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $118,344 | $196,467 | $7,625 |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $180,081 | $188,157 | $15,500 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $137,154 | $187,437 | $19,870 |
| [Rice University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rice-university-2227) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $156,465 | $182,443 | $8,375 |
| [Wellesley College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellesley-college-3189) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $105,692 | $177,213 | $6,500 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $127,472 | $172,904 | $19,250 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $124,222 | $163,708 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Computer Network Support Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-support-specialists): $76,220 median pay
- [Database Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/database-administrators): $104,620 median pay
- [Computer Network Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-network-architects): $134,050 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Systems Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-analysts): $105,850 median pay
- [Information Security Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-engineers): $116,580 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.