Salary AI Book a Demo

Network Administrator Salary in the United States

How much does a Network Administrator make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Network Administrator in the United States is $110,187 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, a Network Administrator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $131,187
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,088 to $121,179
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,804
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Network Administrator Salaries

A Network Administrator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Network Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Network Administrator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $73,161
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $91,143
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $109,379
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $125,276
  • Expert (over 8 years): $145,995
Levels Salary
Network A... Level Network Administrator$73,161
Network A... Level Network Administrator$91,143
Network A... Level Network Administrator$109,379
Network A... Level Network Administrator$125,276
Network A... Level Network Administrator$145,995
View as Graph

How Do Network Administrator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Network Administrators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $121,999.
  • California: $121,536.
  • Massachusetts: $119,917.

Top Paying Cities for Network Administrators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $138,979
  • San Francisco: $137,457
  • Oakland: $134,560

What Skills Can Increase a Network Administrator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 6.65% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • VMware (Mentioned in 3.01% Job Postings): Applying the VMware software to develop multiple virtual computer systems within a single server.
  • Computer Engineering (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): Computer engineering is a branch of electrical engineering that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 6.65%
VMware 3.01%
Computer Engineering 2.13%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Network Administrator's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Azure: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $113,493
3%
Azure $113,493
3%
Insight $113,493
3%
Get Latest Data

Network Administrator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Network Administrator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Network Administrator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Network Administrator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Network Administrator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$154,262$74.040%
Internet$148,752$72.035%
Financial Services$143,243$69.030%
Energy & Utilities$137,734$66.025%
Aerospace & Defense$132,224$64.020%

How Education impacts a Network Administrator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Network Administrators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Network Administrator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $104,784 and $110,383).

Network Administrator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Network Administrator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 25.4%
Associates 20.7%
Bachelors 44.9%
Masters 7.8%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

Network Administrator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Network Administrator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$101,088
Average $110,187/year
$121,179
$8,424
Average $9,182/month
$10,098
$1,944
Average $2,119/week
$2,330
$49
Average $53/hour
$58
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $121,179 $10,098 $2,330 $58
Average $110,187 $9,182 $2,119 $53
25th Percentile $101,088 $8,424 $1,944 $49

Most common benefits for Network Administrator

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Network Administrator

Here are companies hiring for Network Administrator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Network Administrator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Network Administrator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Network Administrator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Network Administrator?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Network Administrator roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst