STEM

Network Administrator

Keep a company's wireless internet, cables, and connections running so everyone can get online and share files

Open interactive guide

What does a Network Administrator do?

Network administrators work in offices, schools, and hospitals, often around closets full of cables and switches. They set up routers, fix outages, and keep hackers out. Hands-on problem solvers who stay calm when the internet goes down are a good fit.

A day in the life

8:00 AMCheck the monitoring screen for links that dropped overnight
9:00 AMSet up wireless internet access for a new office wing
10:30 AMTrace a slow connection to a bad cable in a wall closet
1:00 PMInstall security updates on routers and firewalls
3:00 PMCreate accounts and permissions for new employees
4:30 PMUpdate the map showing how every device connects

What's great

  • Mix of desk work and hands-on work
  • You see fixes work right away
  • Certifications show clear steps up
  • Every school and office needs a network

The hard parts

  • Outages can strike at any hour
  • Crawling through ceilings and closets
  • Big updates often run at night
  • Blamed first when the internet fails

What is a Network Administrator's salary and outlook?

$48k – $120k
Salary Range
Bachelor's degree
Typical Education
Stable

Typical pay in this guide runs from about $48,000 to $120,000 a year, with a midpoint around $80,000. These are planning figures for students, not a job offer or an official wage.

CareerLens rates the outlook as Stable.

For the official national outlook, see BLS Occupational Data.

How do you become a Network Administrator?

A common path is Bachelor's degree in IT or computer science, plus network certifications. The ladder often runs from Help Desk Technician to Network Administrator, then Senior Network Engineer, and IT Director. Other routes: Associate degree in networking; Entry-level networking certification; Start on a help desk and learn on the job; Military communications training.

  • Associate degree in networking
  • Entry-level networking certification
  • Start on a help desk and learn on the job
  • Military communications training

Career path

Entry level
Help Desk Technician
Mid career
Network Administrator
Senior
Senior Network Engineer
Executive
IT Director

Will AI replace a Network Administrator?

How much will AI change this job?

A lot

AI will change many everyday tasks in this job. The work shifts toward judgment, checking, and people.

AI will handle routine network tasks, humans guide the big decisions.

Network administrators keep computer systems running smoothly, and AI tools now help spot problems faster and automate repetitive fixes. This means less time on routine checks and more time solving tricky issues and planning for the future. The job shifts toward judgment, security, and teamwork.

AI can help with

  • Monitoring networks for unusual activity or errors
  • Automating routine software updates and backups
  • Suggesting fixes for common connection problems

What stays human

  • Deciding how to respond to serious security threats
  • Designing networks that fit a company's unique needs
  • Explaining technical problems clearly to non-tech coworkers

Skills to build now

  • Learn basics of computers and how networks connect
  • Practice troubleshooting by fixing small tech issues at home
  • Join a coding or robotics club to build problem-solving skills

Based on public research from Anthropic and OpenAI, drafted with AI, checked automatically, and read by a person. How we know

This describes how the work may change. It is not a prediction that the job will disappear.