Occupation · SOC 15-1244
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
Median wage
$96,800
$60,320–$150,320
Projected growth
-4.2%
Declining
Annual openings
-1,380
per year
Employed (US)
318,570
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,964 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSystems AnalysisJudgment and Decision MakingTroubleshootingSystems EvaluationMonitoringComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
Computers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceEngineering and TechnologyTelecommunications
Technology & tools
Access softwareInternet directory services softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareDocument management softwareDevelopment environment software
Representative tasks
Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use.Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future.Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement.Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems.Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes.Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records.Load computer tapes and disks, and install software and printer paper or forms.Train people in computer system use.Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records.Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements.Coordinate with vendors and with company personnel to facilitate purchases.Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system.Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs.Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Computer hardware and systems software configurations — document and apply under direct supervision in a managed enterprise network environment.Data backup procedures — execute scheduled backup jobs following established protocols on organizational servers and storage systems.Network and system problem symptoms — recognize and escalate to senior administrators in a multi-user corporate computing environment.Email application settings and virus protection software — configure basic parameters under guidance in a standard business IT environment.Master console monitoring dashboards — observe system performance metrics and report anomalies to senior staff during routine operations.Network performance baseline data — collect and log using standard monitoring tools in a supervised enterprise network environment.Network security policies — review and apply predefined access control rules under direction in a production IT environment.Equipment performance logs — retrieve and compile records for senior review to support repair or replacement decisions.Technical documentation and vendor manuals — read and interpret to support assigned configuration and maintenance tasks in a corporate IT setting.Ticketing and incident management systems — use to record, update, and track hardware and software issues in a help-desk-supported environment.
developing
Computer networks and related computing environments — administer and maintain with reduced oversight across hardware, software, and configuration layers in a mid-sized enterprise.Disaster recovery operations — execute and validate restoration procedures following documented recovery plans in a business-critical server environment.Hardware, software, and network faults — diagnose and resolve using structured troubleshooting methodologies and replace defective components in a production network.Email platforms and endpoint virus protection software — configure, monitor, and tune to meet organizational security standards in a corporate messaging environment.Master console tools — operate to coordinate network access, monitor system performance, and respond to alerts across a multi-server enterprise environment.Network performance metrics — analyze trend data to identify bottlenecks and recommend capacity adjustments in a growing organizational network.Network security measures — plan and implement firewall rules, access controls, and patch schedules to protect data and systems in a regulated business environment.Equipment performance records — analyze patterns over time to make informed repair-or-replacement recommendations to IT management.Database management system software — maintain user accounts, permissions, and routine maintenance tasks in support of enterprise applications.Technical findings and status updates — communicate clearly in written reports and verbal briefings to IT peers and non-technical stakeholders in a corporate setting.
proficient
Enterprise network infrastructure and computing environments — autonomously design, administer, and optimize across full hardware, software, and configuration scope in a complex multi-site organization.Backup architectures and disaster recovery plans — author, test, and refine to meet RPO and RTO targets in a business-continuity-focused enterprise environment.Complex, non-routine hardware, software, and network failures — independently diagnose, resolve, and document root causes using advanced troubleshooting in high-availability production systems.Enterprise email platforms and security software suites — architect configurations, evaluate new tools, and enforce compliance with organizational security policies across the full user base.System and network performance consoles — leverage to proactively coordinate access controls, optimize resource utilization, and preempt service degradations across a large enterprise.Network performance analysis — conduct in-depth capacity planning studies and translate findings into actionable infrastructure upgrade recommendations for IT leadership.Comprehensive network security programs — design and implement including intrusion detection, vulnerability management, and incident response procedures in a risk-conscious enterprise environment.Equipment lifecycle data — evaluate systematically to develop evidence-based replacement and investment strategies aligned with organizational operational needs.ERP and enterprise application integrations — assess, configure, and troubleshoot to ensure reliable connectivity between business systems in a complex technology ecosystem.Critical thinking and systems analysis — apply to evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption strategies that align with organizational IT architecture goals.
advanced
Enterprise-wide network and systems strategy — define and lead implementation across all infrastructure layers, setting long-term technical direction for a large or multi-site organization.Disaster recovery and business continuity governance — establish organizational standards, oversee testing cadences, and ensure regulatory compliance across all systems and sites.Organizational incident response capability — build and lead, directing senior administrators through complex, high-impact outages and establishing post-incident improvement processes.Information security posture — champion and govern enterprise-wide, integrating network security policy with risk management frameworks and executive-level reporting requirements.IT infrastructure investment decisions — drive by synthesizing equipment performance data, capacity trends, and business objectives into multi-year capital planning recommendations for executive leadership.Network performance and reliability standards — establish organizational benchmarks, oversee continuous monitoring programs, and hold teams accountable for service-level commitments.Systems administration team — mentor, develop, and lead, building technical depth across emerging and developing practitioners in a large enterprise IT department.Vendor and technology partnerships — manage strategically, evaluating enterprise software, hardware, and telecommunications contracts to optimize cost, capability, and organizational alignment.Cross-functional IT governance — collaborate with business unit leaders, security officers, and compliance teams to align network and systems administration practices with enterprise objectives.Organizational knowledge management — institutionalize by overseeing documentation standards, runbooks, and knowledge-sharing practices that sustain operational resilience across the IT function.
Also known as
402 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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