Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

• Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist)
• Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator)
• Network Administrator
• Systems Administrator (Systems Admin)

Alternate Job Titles

• AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist)
• Application Security Administrator
• Application Systems Administrator
• Computer Systems Security Administrator
• E-Mail System Administrator
• Enterprise Systems Administrator
• Hardware Installation Coordinator
• Information Analyst
• Information Systems Administrator
• Information Systems Coordinator (IS Coordinator)
• Information Systems Operator
• Information Technology Administrator (IT Administrator)
• Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist)
• Information Technology Technical Support Specialist (IT Technical Support Specialist)
• Installation Coordinator

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
• Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
• Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
• Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use.
• Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• Computers and Electronics
• English Language
• Customer and Personal Service
• Engineering and Technology

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Critical Thinking
3. Judgment and Decision Making
4. Systems Analysis
5. Active Listening
6. Monitoring
7. Complex Problem Solving
8. Troubleshooting
9. Systems Evaluation
10. Programming

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Problem Sensitivity
• Information Ordering
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Speech Recognition
• Written Expression

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Attention to Detail
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Integrity
• Intellectual Curiosity

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Working Conditions
• Support
• Achievement
• Recognition
• Independence

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Adobe Acrobat
• AJAX
• Amazon DynamoDB
• Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2
• Amazon Redshift
• Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation
• Amazon Web Services AWS software
• Ansible software
• Apache Cassandra
• Apache Hadoop

Tools & Equipment

• Asynchronous transfer mode ATM analyzers
• Bit error rate testers BERT
• Cable verifiers
• Communications analyzers
• Computer tool kits
• Desktop computers
• Load balancers
• Mainframe computers
• Network analyzers
• Network switches
• Notebook computers
• Optical spectrum analyzers
• Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR
• Power meters
• Powerline monitors

Work Environment

• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
• E-Mail
• Telephone Conversations
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
• Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$60,320
Median	$96,800
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$150,320

Workers Employed Nationally: 318,570

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.