Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a senior network administrator and how to become one
Senior network administrators are basically responsible for the management of the use of local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and organization-specific networks. As a senior network administrator, you are to collect data to improve reliability and security. Your most important duty as a senior network administrator is to deploy and configure networks for organization-wide use. Furthermore, you are to lead teams of IT personnel and manage the workflow of this department.
Also, you are to improve system performance by developing and deploying performance-enhancing measures all through the network. In addition, you are to conduct data backup to ensure data stays intact and secure in case the system crashes. To be qualified for this role, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in either computer, information science, or related field. Some employers prefer candidates with master's degrees, though. The average annual salary of a senior network administrator is $90,792.
What general advice would you give to a senior network administrator?
Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington
Avg. Salary $89,169
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%
Asian 10.15%
Black or African American 9.02%
Hispanic or Latino 12.70%
Unknown 5.10%
White 62.73%
Genderfemale 8.30%
male 91.70%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Senior network administrator career paths
Key steps to become a senior network administrator
Explore senior network administrator education requirements
Start to develop specific senior network administrator skills
Skills Percentages Switches 7.54% Routers 4.92% Troubleshoot 4.59% Windows Server 4.50% Network Infrastructure 3.76% Complete relevant senior network administrator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior network administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior network administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior network administrator resumes.Gain additional senior network administrator certifications
More About CertificationsSenior network administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior network administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for senior network administrators include CompTIA Network+ and Network 5 Certification.
Research senior network administrator duties and responsibilities
- Lead IP management specialist and assist with management of DHCP scopes and reservations.
- Establish and manage SharePoint base intranet for departmental and interdepartmental support.
- Configure and manage SQL database archival requests for automate timely data submissions.
- Configure and manage multiple data and application servers and maintain SQL relational databases.
Get senior network administrator experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior network administrator. The most common roles before becoming a senior network administrator include network administrator, systems administrator team lead and network technician.Prepare your senior network administrator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior network administrator resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior network administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior network administrator resume templates
Build a professional senior network administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior network administrator resume.
Apply for senior network administrator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior network administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior network administrator job
Are you a senior network administrator?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average senior network administrator salary
The average senior network administrator salary in the United States is $89,169 per year or $43 per hour. Senior network administrator salaries range between $68,000 and $115,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior network administrators rate their job?
Senior network administrator reviews
talking to people
outside weather, I work as a network technician and the main problem I always encounter is the cold weather.
Updated January 8, 2025
