By CBT Nuggets Editorial · Last reviewed May 2026
Network administrators manage and maintain an organization's networking needs. They keep email, cloud apps, conferencing, and the underlying connectivity online, secure, and running at peak performance. It's the role most IT teams hire first to own the network layer.
On a 5- to 15-person IT team, the network administrator is usually the person whose pager fires first when the office Wi-Fi drops at 9am.
What network administrators handle
The role is operational, not architectural. Network administrators install and configure LANs, WANs, and VPNs. They monitor performance and troubleshoot when things go sideways. They identify and fix bottlenecks, outages, or that one rogue switch causing chaos. They manage bandwidth and traffic prioritization so critical applications get the headroom they need.
- Install and configure LANs, WANs, VPNs
- Monitor performance and troubleshoot outages
- Manage bandwidth and traffic prioritization
- Plan disaster recovery and redundancy
- Maintain network documentation
- Secure the network — firewalls, access control, intrusion prevention
Technical skills the role demands
Skills vary by industry and stack, but the network admin floor is the same across employers: deep networking fundamentals (every layer of the OSI model, how data moves, how to configure routers, switches, access points); security expertise (firewalls, VPNs, anomaly detection, access controls); vendor-specific fluency (mostly Cisco and Juniper for enterprise gear); cloud networking (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud); and increasingly, scripting in Python, Bash, or PowerShell to automate repetitive operations.
Education and certifications
Most network administrators hold a bachelor's degree in IT, computer science, or networking. If college isn't the path, boot camps and structured online courses cover the same ground. Several industry certifications signal readiness regardless of degree status.
- Cisco CCNA — the most common networking entry credential
- CompTIA Network+ — vendor-neutral foundation
- Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Fundamentals
- Juniper JNCIA — for Juniper-heavy shops
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking — for cloud-first environments
Career path
Most network admins start as help desk technicians or junior systems administrators, then move into a dedicated network admin role. From there, advancement leads to senior network admin, network engineer, or IT manager. Specialized paths run through network architecture, security, and cloud networking.
Network Administrator vs. System Administrator
Both roles maintain IT infrastructure, but network admins focus on routers, switches, and firewalls while system admins keep servers and operating systems running. Think of it as the choice between maintaining the highways (network) or the cars driving on them (systems).
Compensation
How much does a Network Administrator make?
| Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0-2 years) | $56,000 - $73,000 |
| Mid-Level (3-5 years) | $65,000 - $94,000 |
| Senior-Level (5+ years) | $85,000 - $101,000+ |
Salary figures reflect 2026 market data.
Hiring a Network Administrator in the U.S. starts around $56,000/yr and runs significantly higher for senior roles. Training one internally on CBT Nuggets Teams is $59/seat/month, billed annually — virtual labs, practice exams, and IT Trainerbot included for every seat.
For hiring managers
If you're hiring Network Administrators
If you're hiring a network admin, the right candidate is someone who's lived through a real outage — not just one who's earned the CCNA. Hands-on troubleshooting against your actual vendor mix beats abstract certification depth. Promote internally from help desk or sysadmin when the candidate has shown they can keep their head during a P1.
Train Network Administrators on your team
Two paths into CBT Nuggets, depending on whether you're hiring for the role or growing into it yourself.
Hiring or training Network Administrators on your team?
See how CBT Nuggets builds Network Administrator bench depth with role-based training, admin reporting, and per-learner completion evidence — $59/seat/month, billed annually, on CBT Nuggets Teams.
For IT leaders & training managersStart training as a Network Administrator
Browse the courses, certifications, and hands-on labs that map to the Network Administrator path.
For individual learnersBuild the capability
Related CBT Nuggets training
Each link routes to training that maps to the skills on this career path.
Network Administrator FAQ
Do I need a degree to become a network administrator?
Not necessarily. Many network admins hold a bachelor's degree in IT or computer science, but certifications like CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA carry significant weight with employers. Hands-on experience and credentials often outweigh a four-year degree.
How long does it take to become a network administrator?
Generally two to five years. With a relevant degree, most people land their first network admin role in a year or two. Without one, a focused certification track plus help-desk experience usually gets candidates there in two to three years.
Is network administration stressful?
It can be, but not overwhelmingly so. Unexpected outages and urgent troubleshooting calls are part of the job — the stakes are typically 'conference-room Wi-Fi is down' rather than 'the market is crashing.' Most admins find the problem-solving rewarding.