Network contractor vs systems administrator

The differences between network contractors and systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a network contractor and a systems administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $55,845 average annual salary of a network contractor.

The top three skills for a network contractor include customer service, service calls and provider network. The most important skills for a systems administrator are linux, troubleshoot, and windows server.

Network contractor vs systems administrator overview

	Network Contractor	Systems Administrator
Yearly salary	$55,845	$77,156
Hourly rate	$26.85	$37.09
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	45,116	134,500
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a network contractor do?

Network contractors are information technology (IT) professionals who accept contracts from clients to provide materials and labor to perform tasks related to installing and maintaining network systems. These contractors must coordinate network security systems to deliver the efficiency of their clients' network systems. They must develop and maintain business relationships with providers to ensure proper network composition. They need to provide end-user training on network systems to maximize operator efficiency and increase speed. Network contractors should also assist their clients in the operation, restoration, and configuration of computer systems.

What does a systems administrator do?

Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.

Network contractor vs systems administrator salary

Network contractors and systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Contractor	Systems Administrator
Average salary	$55,845	$77,156
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $79,000	Between $59,000 And $100,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Meta
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between network contractor and systems administrator education

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

	Network Contractor	Systems Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	Stanford University	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Network contractor vs systems administrator demographics

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

	Network Contractor	Systems Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5%	Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%
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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between network contractor and systems administrator duties and responsibilities

Network contractor example responsibilities.

Manage various common Linux server and web applications.
Experience managing the day-to-day operations of telecommunication services utilize by Astra Zeneca.
Segment LAN network using TCP/IP with VLAN configuration.
Provide desktop support to users ranging from OS and application installation and system deployment on network PCs.
Replace POS components at Wal-Mart locations.
Create client to home VPN server using firewall.

Systems administrator example responsibilities.

Used Jenkins to automate most of the build relate tasks.
Manage windows file servers, messaging, and SQL databases.
Lead the project which integrate internal DNS into the corporate LDAP infrastructure for end user host management prior to deployment.
Lead business-critical information security initiatives involving encryption of customer data.
Authore and maintain shell and Perl scripts to automate administration tasks for infrastructure management.
Configure & manage all switches and servers responsible for providing WLAN connectivity and authentication services.

Network contractor vs systems administrator skills

Common network contractor skills

Customer Service, 54%
Service Calls, 28%
Provider Network, 5%
Medicaid, 4%
Network Composition, 3%
Contract Templates, 2%

Common systems administrator skills

Linux, 7%
Troubleshoot, 7%
Windows Server, 6%
Database, 5%
Technical Support, 4%
PowerShell, 3%

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Network Contractor vs Systems Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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