Information systems administrator vs network administrator

The differences between information systems administrators and network administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an information systems administrator and a network administrator. Additionally, an information systems administrator has an average salary of $79,194, which is higher than the $71,357 average annual salary of a network administrator.

The top three skills for an information systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and OS. The most important skills for a network administrator are switches, windows server, and troubleshoot.

Information systems administrator vs network administrator overview

	Information Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Yearly salary	$79,194	$71,357
Hourly rate	$38.07	$34.31
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	176,724	106,886
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does an information systems administrator do?

Businesses today are mostly dependent heavily on the internet and computer systems for their daily transactions. The information systems administrator is a person that monitors, configures, and upgrades these systems to adapt to the constant advancement in technology. The information systems administrator maintains networks used inside the company, making access to information efficient and fast. A company with a fast and reliable information system will have an edge against competitive companies.

What does a network administrator do?

A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.

Information systems administrator vs network administrator salary

Information systems administrators and network administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Information Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Average salary	$79,194	$71,357
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $104,000	Between $56,000 And $90,000
Highest paying City	Pleasanton, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Cadence Design Systems	Google
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between information systems administrator and network administrator education

There are a few differences between an information systems administrator and a network administrator in terms of educational background:

	Information Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	Stanford University	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Information systems administrator vs network administrator demographics

Here are the differences between information systems administrators' and network administrators' demographics:

	Information Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7%	Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 9.6% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between information systems administrator and network administrator duties and responsibilities

Information systems administrator example responsibilities.

Manage mission critical Linux systems which track all data relating to rotary wing aircraft.
Institute, manage, and document procedures for UNIX systems security, maintenance, and backup.
Install/Configure managed switches to increase network speed
Manage the company Novell network including relate equipment.
Manage network infrastructure spanning multiple geographically-distribute sites, including VPN / remote access systems and firewalls.
Ensure adequate security protections for proprietary data and intellectual property; manage and configure firewalls and security posture.

Network administrator example responsibilities.

Lead and manage desktop standards project.
Manage backups using EMC Networker and Avamar.
Manage Solarwinds to monitor servers and networks for all locations.
Manage all provisioning and technical issues for new customer IP blocks.
Deploy and manage storage (windows file servers and NetApp NAS).
Manage all technology: Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, email, library, labs, dorms, programs

Information systems administrator vs network administrator skills

Common information systems administrator skills

Linux, 13%
Troubleshoot, 10%
OS, 8%
Unix, 7%
Virtualization, 6%
Java, 4%

Common network administrator skills

Switches, 7%
Windows Server, 6%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Network Hardware, 5%
Routers, 4%
Lan Wan, 4%

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Information Systems Administrator vs Network Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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