How To Become A Wide Area Network Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a wide area network administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Laura Kier

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a wide area network administrator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $29.71 an hour? That's $61,805 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a wide area network administrator?

Laura Kier

Network Design and Administration Instructor

Students graduating from the Computer Network Design and Administration program will enter the job market with a solid foundation in networking technologies. Above that they should also be able to develop and demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Networking has a strong emphasis on teamwork and being able to communicate well with customers, co-workers and teammates is vital. Attaining certifications in Cisco, Linux, Windows, and security will also help the student stand out within the industry (classes in the program help to learn the knowledge needed to attain certifications). Students should participate in any local or online communities and groups to enhance skills and knowledge and find networking opportunities.

ScoreWide Area Network AdministratorUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,805

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 9.58%

Black or African American 5.62%

Hispanic or Latino 9.42%

Unknown 4.81%

White 70.26%

Gender

female 10.53%

male 89.47%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a wide area network administrator

Explore wide area network administrator education requirements

Most common wide area network administrator degrees

Bachelor's

44.4 %

Associate

37.0 %

Master's

11.1 %

Start to develop specific wide area network administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Switches	41.77%
PC	30.66%
Tcp Ip	27.57%

Complete relevant wide area network administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New wide area 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 wide area network administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real wide area network administrator resumes.

Research wide area network administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage and support corporate Linux Production/Development servers.
Coordinate marketing brainstorming meetings, prepare minutes, manage project follow-up, and create summary PowerPoint presentations.
Maintain and update Novell, Microsoft, and Linux servers.
Create a macro driven pc base budget preparation system.

Apply for wide area network administrator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a wide area 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