Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Computer and Mathematical
Day to day work is installing, configuring, and maintaining networks and the servers, operating systems, and software that sit on them. That includes watching performance from a console, reading logs, checking that backups and scheduled jobs finished, and adjusting capacity or access when use changes. When hardware, software, or network faults appear, the job is to diagnose them, replace defective parts, and decide from equipment records what needs repair or replacement. Security measures, email systems, and virus protection are configured and kept current, and disaster-recovery steps are part of the same responsibility. It suits people who like diagnosing faults, tracking performance, and hands-on hardware and software maintenance.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$99'130
Median Wage Market Position
$99'130
What you might do
- Maintain computer networks and the systems on them
- Diagnose and fix hardware, software, and network problems
- Run backups and recover systems after failures
- Watch network performance and decide what to change
- Put security measures in place to protect systems
- Configure email systems and virus protection software
Skills that matter
- Diagnosing failed servers and network gear
- Tracking network load and system health
- Running backups and disaster recovery
- Planning network security for data and hardware
- Reading logs and scheduled-job reports
- Listening when users report outages
AI & the future of this role
Routine monitoring, configuration updates, and first-pass diagnostics may shift toward automation as tools grow more capable. On-site hardware work, security judgment during incidents, and accountability for uptime still tend to anchor demand for experienced administrators.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details