How to hire a network administrator

How to hire a network administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network administrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a network administrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network administrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a network administrator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your network administrator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a network administrator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect network administrator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents network administrator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Network Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Administrator	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$26-43
   Network Internship	In a network internship, an intern's duties depend on the directives of a manager or supervisor. They typically perform support and beginner tasks, such as processing and organizing documentation, liaising with potential clients through calls and correspondence, greeting visitors, answering inquiries, and running errands... Show more	$12-19
   Network Support Analyst	Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems... Show more	$25-61

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • Windows Server
   • Troubleshoot
   • Network Hardware
   • Routers
   • Lan Wan
   • Lan
   • Firewall
   • VPN
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Network Security
   • Technical Support
   • Tcp Ip
   • VMware

   Check all skills

   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

   More network administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your network administrator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A network administrator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, network administrators' average salary in wyoming is 32% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level network administrators earn 38% less than senior-level network administrators.
   • Certifications. A network administrator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a network administrator's salary.

   Average network administrator salary

   $71,357yearly

   $34.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level network administrator salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average network administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$88,019	$42
   2	Washington	$84,622	$41
   3	Oregon	$80,980	$39
   4	Massachusetts	$76,209	$37
   5	Connecticut	$74,722	$36
   6	District of Columbia	$73,515	$35
   7	New York	$73,100	$35
   8	Delaware	$72,827	$35
   9	Texas	$72,629	$35
   10	New Jersey	$72,608	$35
   11	Minnesota	$70,671	$34
   12	North Carolina	$70,592	$34
   13	Pennsylvania	$70,450	$34
   14	Arizona	$70,248	$34
   15	Illinois	$70,023	$34
   16	Georgia	$69,904	$34
   17	Tennessee	$68,715	$33
   18	Virginia	$68,577	$33
   19	Michigan	$68,104	$33
   20	Ohio	$67,845	$33

   Average network administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$116,206	$55.87	64
   2	Epicor	$109,345	$52.57
   3	Molina Healthcare	$107,397	$51.63	70
   4	Juniper Networks	$106,742	$51.32
   5	Citi	$106,419	$51.16	8
   6	AT&T	$104,629	$50.30	79
   7	Rivian	$104,054	$50.03	4
   8	RingCentral	$103,659	$49.84	1
   9	Proofpoint	$102,712	$49.38
   10	New Jersey Resources	$100,910	$48.51
   11	Ampere	$100,436	$48.29
   12	Athene	$99,241	$47.71
   13	Costco Wholesale	$99,091	$47.64	4
   14	Nikola Motor	$98,991	$47.59
   15	iTech US	$98,710	$47.46
   16	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$96,285	$46.29	6
   17	Parsons	$95,853	$46.08	56
   18	Visa	$95,146	$45.74	14
   19	Sullivan & Worcester	$94,190	$45.28	2
   20	Baker McKenzie	$92,951	$44.69

4. Writing a network administrator job description

   A job description for a network administrator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a network administrator job description:

   Network administrator job description example

   • Provides Tier 2 IT operations control support using ITSM ticketing system such as BMC Remedy and/or ServiceNow in the form of systems and as a technical generalist that resolves incidents and requests independent of further escalation to dedicated technology SMEs.
   • Provides Help Desk ticket escalation support to the Army and DISA for all DODIN-A(NG) and DODIN-A(NG)-S issues above or outside the direct O&M of the RCC-NG, including mobile device support.
   • Independently provides advanced level technical interpretation and solutions in the management of networks, software, hardware, configurations, and architectures.
   • Troubleshoots system hardware and software-specific issues using Cisco, Palo Alto, and Microsoft tool sets.
   • Trains end users on the proper use of hardware and software.
   • Applies practical knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.
   • Authors and updates job aids, technical documentation, and procedures.

   QUALIFICATIONS:

   Required Skills and Experience:

   • A minimum of eight years of relevant IT experience including hands-on service desk / Tier 2 support
   • Possess the appropriate baseline certifications to achieve DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II. (CompTIA Security+ or higher)
   • Possess the appropriate computing environment certifications to achieve DoD 8570.01-M Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II. (IE Cisco or Microsoft Certification)
   • An active Secret security clearance.

   Shift 1400-2300

   #GECOS

   Scheduled Weekly Hours:

   40

   Travel Required:

   Less than 10%

   Telecommuting Options:

   Onsite

   Work Location:

   USA VA Falls Church

   Additional Work Locations:

   COVID-19 Vaccination: GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on the status of the federal contractor mandate and customer site requirements.We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find network administrators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your network administrator job on Zippia to find and recruit network administrator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with network administrator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview network administrator candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new network administrator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the network administrator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new network administrator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a network administrator?