Network administrators keep organizational networks running—from configuring routers and switches to managing VPNs, firewalls, and increasingly cloud networking infrastructure. The role is evolving rapidly alongside cloud adoption.
Network Administrator Salary by Level
| Level | Title | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (0-2 years) | Network Admin / IT Network Technician | $50,000-$72,000 |
| Mid-level (2-6 years) | Network Administrator / Network Engineer | $72,000-$102,000 |
| Senior (6-12 years) | Senior Network Engineer | $100,000-$135,000 |
| Specialist | Network Architect / Principal Network Engineer | $130,000-$175,000 |
| Management | IT Manager / Network Manager | $120,000-$160,000 |
Salary by Certification Level
| Certification | Typical Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No certification | $50,000-$72,000 | Entry-level only |
| CompTIA Network+ | $58,000-$80,000 | Good starting credential |
| CCNA | $70,000-$95,000 | Required for most network admin roles |
| CCNP (Enterprise) | $90,000-$125,000 | Major mid-career step up |
| CCNP (Security) | $95,000-$135,000 | Network + security crossover premium |
| CCIE | $120,000-$170,000 | Top of Cisco certification track |
| AWS Networking Specialty | $105,000-$145,000 | High value in cloud-heavy environments |
| Azure Network Engineer Associate | $100,000-$140,000 | Microsoft Azure networking |
Cloud Network Skills Premium
| Skill | Salary Impact |
|---|---|
| AWS VPC / networking | +$10,000-$20,000 over pure on-prem |
| Azure Virtual Networks | +$8,000-$18,000 |
| SD-WAN (Cisco, VMware, Meraki) | +$10,000-$20,000 |
| Network automation (Python, Ansible) | +$12,000-$25,000 |
| Zero Trust networking | +$10,000-$20,000; security-adjacent |
Network automation skills are the highest-value add for network admins seeking raises—Python/Ansible-fluent network engineers earn significantly more than hardware-only peers.
Network Administrator Salary by State
| State | Median Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $108,000 | Tech companies; heavy demand |
| Washington | $103,000 | Microsoft, Amazon, enterprise |
| New York | $100,000 | Finance, media, enterprise |
| Virginia | $100,000 | Government contracting; DoD networks |
| Texas | $88,000 | Growing; no state tax |
| Florida | $82,000 | No state tax; remote-friendly |
| National median | $92,000 | — |
Network Admin vs Network Engineer vs Architect
| Title | Focus | Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| Network Administrator | Day-to-day operations; break-fix; config | $65,000-$100,000 |
| Network Engineer | Design and implementation; projects | $85,000-$130,000 |
| Cloud Network Engineer | VPC, SD-WAN, AWS/Azure networking | $100,000-$150,000 |
| Network Security Engineer | Firewalls, IDS/IPS, Zero Trust | $105,000-$155,000 |
| Network Architect | Enterprise design; strategy | $130,000-$175,000 |
Industry Comparison
| Industry | Network Admin Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finance / banking | $95,000-$140,000 | High requirements for redundancy |
| Government / federal | $78,000-$120,000 | Clearance adds premium |
| Healthcare | $80,000-$115,000 | HIPAA; critical uptime |
| Technology companies | $95,000-$140,000 | Cloud-native environments |
| Education | $65,000-$90,000 | Below average; stable |
| Retail / hospitality | $65,000-$90,000 | PCI compliance driver |
| MSP / consulting | $75,000-$115,000 | Diverse environments; good for learning |
Six-Figure Path for Network Administrators
| Path | Timeline | Key Steps |
|---|---|---|
| CCNA → CCNP → Senior Network Engineer | 5-8 years | Clear certification milestones |
| Add cloud networking (AWS/Azure Specialty) | 2-4 years | Fastest pay increase available |
| Add automation (Python, Ansible) | 1-3 years | Differentiates from peers significantly |
| Move to network security track | 4-7 years | CCNP Security + cybersecurity skills |
| Network Architect role | 10+ years | Requires deep design experience |