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Job outlook for computer administrators in the United States
Computer administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected computer administrator job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for computer administrators are projected over the next decade.
Computer administrator salaries have increased 9% for computer administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 118,709 computer administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 88,405 active computer administrator job openings in the US.
The average computer administrator salary is $86,150.
Are computer administrator jobs in demand?
Computer administrator job and salary trends over time
Computer administrator jobs over time
Computer administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 118,709 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 116,937 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 110,024 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 42,237 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 43,117 | 0.01% |
Average computer administrator salary over time
Computer administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $86,150 | $41.42 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $83,311 | $40.05 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $81,425 | $39.15 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $80,482 | $38.69 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $79,093 | $38.03 | +2.4% |
Computer administrator jobs by state
Most common states for computer administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 306 | 44% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,337 | 22% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 159 | 21% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,684 | 20% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 119 | 19% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,008 | 18% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 224 | 17% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 126 | 17% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,078 | 16% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 142 | 15% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 87 | 15% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 449 | 14% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 148 | 14% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 894 | 13% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 534 | 13% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 264 | 13% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 116 | 13% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 878 | 12% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 670 | 12% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 130 | 12% |
Most common cities for computer administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocala | 1 | 2% | $66,524 |
| 2 | Saint Charles | 1 | 1% | $72,242 |
| 3 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $75,100 |
| 4 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $79,604 |
Computer Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of computer administrator experts
Hampton University
Texas A&M University San Antonio
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
Governors State University
Carleton College
Slippery Rock University
Stetson University
Saint Peter's University
American University
What general advice would you give to a Computer Administrator?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: By entering the computer engineering profession now, individuals can take advantage of the high skilled-power demand in the field, diverse career paths broadly classified under hardware and software sub-areas, lucrative salaries as compared to other fields, continuous learning opportunities, and the potential for entrepreneurship in changing ideas into startup businesses easily. It is a field that offers long-term growth prospects and the chance to contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies.
What Computer Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: A computer engineer's daily tasks can be in the hardware or in the software areas. Some common responsibilities in hardware include designing and developing computer hardware components like processors, circuits and memory devices and creating prototypes and testing hardware products to ensure they meet specifications. In addition, analyzing test data and modifying hardware designs as needed is also the responsibility of a computer engineer. For software side, a computer engineer can do writing code and developing software especially focusing on the underlying hardware and interfacing with it such as kernel level programming and debugging existing software programs and ensuring systems run smoothly. Additionally, a computer engineer is responsible for designing and developing electrical systems and components required for computing systems and modification of electrical circuits based on function assessments. For someone entering the field as a junior or new computer engineer, typical daily activities may involve assisting senior engineers, writing code, testing products, attending training sessions focusing on the above mentioned concentration areas, and participating in meetings to learn about ongoing projects.
What will help Computer Administrators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Yohannes Bekele: In being a computer engineer, people like all the advantages in the field including attractive compensation packages and lucrative salaries, the intellectual satisfaction of solving complex problems, opportunities for continuous learning and innovation as technology rapidly evolves, ability to work on cutting-edge technologies and contribute to their development and the diverse career paths across hardware, software, embedded systems, and various industries. The main struggle most people have in becoming a computer engineer is its steep learning curve especially when it comes to hardware design and related areas. It takes years to become proficient in the field as compared to other fields such as software programming where a relatively shorter amount of time is enough to join the workforce. In addition, the ever evolving environment with constantly changing technologies, standards, and the need to keep learning new things makes it difficult to achieve the epitome in the field.
Laura Kier
Network Design and Administration InstructorWhat general advice would you give to a Computer Administrator?
Laura Kier: Students graduating from the Computer Network Design and Administration program will enter the job market with a solid foundation in networking technologies. Above that they should also be able to develop and demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Networking has a strong emphasis on teamwork and being able to communicate well with customers, co-workers and teammates is vital. Attaining certifications in Cisco, Linux, Windows, and security will also help the student stand out within the industry (classes in the program help to learn the knowledge needed to attain certifications). Students should participate in any local or online communities and groups to enhance skills and knowledge and find networking opportunities.
What Computer Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Laura Kier: Computer Networking is a dynamic field with a wide variety of opportunities in many different industries. Some skills that will be more important in general are skills in software defined networking and automation. Skills in the DevOps field will be necessary, as well as skills leveraging AI tools. Cybersecurity is always important and using AI tools to enhance security and monitoring is necessary.
What will help Computer Administrators increase their earning potential?
Laura Kier: Learn to present your skills well from the interview and into your career. Those communication skills count! Industry certifications like CCNA matter. They help you demonstrate a willingness to grow and learn beyond what was required for your degree. Be willing to take on new challenges with your new job and keep learning new skills. It is really important for graduates to understand that talented IT professionals can move up quickly in a company, but they often must start at the bottom to showcase their technical and soft skills. Because of that, they should not shy away from entry level jobs if there is potential for growth.
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Information SystemsTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Information Systems Department
What soft skills should all Computer Administrators possess?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Ability to work as part of a team.
-Attention to detail.
-Problem-solving and analytical skills.
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Community Engagement & Internationalization Officer, Professor of Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis, Director, Executive Master’s of Science in Information Technology (EMIT) Program, Executive Director, Center for Management of IT (CMIT), Fulbright Grantee (Specialist 2014; Core 2020-21)University of Nebraska at Omaha
College of Information Science & Technology
What's a good job out of college for Computer Administrators?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: I think the "best" and "interesting" jobs in my view will be those that leverage emerging technical skills such as AI/ML, data analytics, cybersecurity and medical informatics, with the nontechnical capabilities mentioned above.
What technical skills for a Computer Administrator stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Computer Administrators need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Stephen Hyzny: Security, as more people need online services, the protection behind that technology will be needed.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Computer Administrators in the next 5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: As everything involves technology, more educated people will need it in the future. As our cars, houses, and lives connect, people will be required to make it all work.
What type of skills will young Computer Administrators need?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce. For science and engineering applications, it is often also helpful to have R, Python, Matlab, or another popular programming language. But technical abilities get the graduate-only so far. They need interpersonal communication skills so that they can understand the needs of stakeholders and cooperate with colleagues. For this reason, many faculty at my school emphasize writing, speaking, listening, and teamwork skills.
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSlippery Rock University
Department of Information Systems
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Administrators?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: It is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and transformed the lives of many people, including students all over the world. A major effect is requiring students to stay and learn from home because of the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure. Missing saying the traditional goodbye to friends, fraternities, and sororities, and having to watch commencement ceremonies in bedrooms online will leave an indelible mark in graduates.
This means a great U-shift in memories of college life, including physical interaction and learning environment, and systems adopting a new way of doing things. Graduates will enter the job market with uncertainties of availability of traditional jobs and how to work in a new normal. Many graduates will find themselves having to search for jobs virtually and having to start working remotely from the beginning in most cases and in most industries. What would have been a new beginning, along with the excitement of stepping through the doors of the new office and career, will not be there physically. This will have an impact on these graduates because of the transformation of society as a result of the pandemic.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Administrators to find work opportunities?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: Sometimes new graduates from college can find it hard to get the perfect or preferred job location. This may be different for those with information sciences or information systems and related degrees. Luckily there are big companies, multinational companies as well as some-sized enterprises who need skills in that discipline. Most of these can be found in some of the big cities beyond Silicon Valley such as NY, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Charlotte, Houston, Boston, Dallas, and Minneapolis, just to name a few.
Some of these locations are where some of the big tech companies reside, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, HP, SAP, etc. The advantage of this degree is that graduates not only can work for tech companies but any company because of the need to manage data, information, process, and technology. Companies all over have or are putting together strategies to harness the potential of big data, and graduates with information sciences, information systems, and related degrees are sought after continuously.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Administrators in the next 5 years?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: The trend we have witnessed in the past two decades in terms of development in technology is unprecedented. This has a ripple effect on the field of information sciences and systems. Most traditional jobs have changed or rebranded. For example, consider how information and data processing and management (IDPM) has revolutionized into what is today information management or management information systems; business intelligence is almost transformed into business analytics, data science; high-performance computing, and grid computing is today predominantly engulfed by cloud computing services.
These are changing how data and information are managed. The decision-making process is changing in various information and knowledge-intensive and process-oriented industries such as healthcare, banking, transportation, engineering, education, security, just to name a few, despite the fact that roles and services still remain. New and emerging disciplines and services are added, driven by the advancement and greater capabilities of technology. Without a doubt, in the next few years, data and information services will be revolutionized by technology hugely. Consider the development in artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, 5G, and broadband networks, all of which have huge potential to impact the discipline. This means that information sciences and information systems courses must adapt to take into consideration the emerging skills required by the professionals and businesses of the future. The education and training of professionals in this domain have to be continuously changing to prepare graduates adequately.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Administrators?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: I didn't see any negative impact of coronavirus on our graduates. Our graduates did not have any problem finding internships and jobs during the pandemic. After the pandemic, there will be even more demand and opportunities for our graduates.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Administrators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: Not really. With the increasing shift of working remotely, the jobs now are not tied to a specific location in the US or anywhere in the world.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Administrators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: In our field, it might be more appropriate the other way around. I would like to rephrase the question as to how does the computer science field impact technology in the next five years? The answer is tremendous. With fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, visual, and augmented reality making great strides, there is no doubt that we will witness a revolution in technology in the next five years.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Administrators in the next 5 years?
Edward Moskal: Technology will have a significant impact over the next five years. While technology associated with the software, databases, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity will still have an impact, we are likely to see significant changes and advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, combinations of augmented and mixed reality, and quantum computing. Industry and business will be driving these advancements, in particular, the healthcare industry and large tech companies like Google and Facebook that have already started establishing a strong presence in these fields.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Administrators to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley: My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.