Network and computer systems administrators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Network and computer systems administrators in the United States earn a median salary of $99,130 per year — about $48 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 332K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -4%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is primarily digital and involves tasks like configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting that are highly susceptible to AI-driven automation and 'infrastructure as code' practices. While some physical hardware maintenance remains, the shift toward cloud computing and AI-powered network management tools is already leading to a projected decline in employment as fewer workers can manage larger, more complex systems.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NVBEST VALUE | $118,340 | Below avg (94.9) | $124,715 |
| Springfield, IL | $110,600 | Below avg (90.7) | $122,006 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $122,950 | Above avg (103.2) | $119,156 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,360 | Above avg (113.1) | $117,956 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,630 | Below avg (88.8) | $115,530 |
| Rochester, MN | $107,210 | Below avg (93.0) | $115,332 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $125,430 | Above avg (109.5) | $114,503 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $110,640 | Average (97.3) | $113,655 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $102,020 | Below avg (90.8) | $112,365 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,750 | Below avg (94.6) | $111,751 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,680 | Above avg (117.6) | $110,318 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $117,200 | Above avg (107.0) | $109,521 |
| Decatur, IL | $94,700 | Below avg (86.7) | $109,276 |
| Mankato, MN | $95,720 | Below avg (87.6) | $109,211 |
| Boulder, CO | $109,790 | Average (100.6) | $109,120 |
Education & Requirements
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