Systems administrator vs network administrator

The differences between 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 a systems administrator and a network administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $71,357 average annual salary of a network administrator.

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

Systems administrator vs network administrator overview

	Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Yearly salary	$77,156	$71,357
Hourly rate	$37.09	$34.31
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	134,500	106,886
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

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.

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.

Systems administrator vs network administrator salary

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

	Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Average salary	$77,156	$71,357
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $100,000	Between $56,000 And $90,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Meta	Google
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between systems administrator and network administrator education

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

	Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Systems administrator vs network administrator demographics

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

	Systems Administrator	Network Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%	Male, 88.6% Female, 11.4%
Race ratio	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%	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 systems administrator and network administrator duties and responsibilities

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 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

Systems administrator vs network administrator skills

Common systems administrator skills

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

Common network administrator skills

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

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Systems Administrator vs Network Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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