What Do I Need To Be A Network Administrator?

The network administrator manages your organization's computer network. They are also sometimes referred to as system or system administrators, IT administrators, or LAN administrators. Their areas of expertise include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and intranets. Network administrators organize, install, and support these systems.

Most network administrator’s work in the design, education and IT industries, but jobs can also be found in different types of organizations. In 2016, approximately 391,300 network administrators worked in the United States.

Network Administrator Salary Information

The largest network administrator employer in the United States is the computer systems design industry. California is the state's top employer for network administrator salary, in part because of its strong technology sector. Network administrators also find high levels of employment in business, telecommunications, academia and government.

Oil and gas network operators, financial services and insurance companies earn the best salaries. Texas has the second largest number of network operators in the country, claiming some areas where oil and gas extraction activities are concentrated.

With advanced training and hands-on training, network administrators increase their revenue potential. According to PayScale, entry-level network administrators earn $ 49,000 and those with more than five years of experience earn $ 60,000. Continuing education and professional qualifications further increase your revenue opportunities and help network administrators grow their careers.

Duties And Responsibilities Of Network Administrators

The exact responsibilities of network operators vary by industry, but some common responsibilities are:

Provides multi-site WAN technical monitoring at enterprise level for design, implementation / expansion, maintenance and troubleshooting.

·         Prepare and maintain network configuration and cable layout documentation

·         Design, develop and manage your wireless infrastructure and support systems.

·         Upgrades, patches, and new applications and equipment are recommended.

·         Train team members in new hardware or software.

·         Explore and suggest approaches to system management tasks.

·         Analyze and monitor server security and apply fixes and fixes to address potential security holes.

·         Provides hardware and operating system support for corporate and computer systems environments, UNIX, Linux, Windows and storage.

 Network Administrator Skills And Capabilities

The technical skills available through formal training and qualifications are essential for employment, but network management also requires some soft skills and personal qualifications.

Troubleshooting Skills: Powerful problem-solving skills help you troubleshoot your organization's computer network.

Critical Thinking Skills: Good critical thinking skills allow you to weigh all possible options and decide what will be the most effective solution to your problem.

Listening and speaking skills: These skills help you communicate with your colleagues.

Reading Comprehension: Reading comprehension requires very good reading comprehension.

Job Prospects

This profession is expected to grow by about 6% from 2016 to 2026, which is the average lower limit for all professions. As companies continue to demand faster and more modern technologies, good network administrators should continue to be in demand. However, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics warns that this demand may be limited by a growing number of companies moving to cloud computing.