Network Administrator: Facts, Skills, and Next Paths

A Network Administrator installs, configures, and maintains an organization's network infrastructure, including switches, routers, firewalls, and related software. Day-to-day work involves monitoring network performance, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and ensuring systems stay secure and available.

Core responsibilities include implementing security policies, managing network hardware, and documenting configurations. The role sits within an IT department and often supports government or defense contractors—for example, SAIC hires Network Administrators for on-site work at the Army Research Laboratory, and Innovative Management Concepts requires hands-on support of enterprise networks in a DoD environment. Tasks range from configuring Layer 2/3 switching to resolving access problems and maintaining intrusion detection systems.

The median salary for Network Administrators is about $97,500. The most requested skills in current job postings are network administration (50%), compliance (30%), and troubleshooting (30%).