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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $133,360 | Above avg (110.4) | $120,772 |
| Carson City, NV | $118,340 | Average (98.1) | $120,595 |
| Springfield, IL | $110,600 | Below avg (92.7) | $119,252 |
| Rochester, MN | $107,210 | Below avg (90.8) | $118,045 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $122,950 | Above avg (104.5) | $117,670 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $98,950 | Below avg (85.4) | $115,834 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $125,430 | Above avg (108.9) | $115,196 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $110,640 | Average (97.6) | $113,393 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,630 | Below avg (91.2) | $112,495 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,680 | Above avg (115.6) | $112,167 |
| Greenville, NC | $98,840 | Below avg (88.4) | $111,807 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,750 | Below avg (95.5) | $110,769 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $107,890 | Average (97.5) | $110,605 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $117,200 | Above avg (106.9) | $109,672 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $109,590 | Average (100.8) | $108,763 |
Education & Requirements
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