How to Go a Network Ambassador [Career & Salary Guide]

Academic Managing director of the Primary of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership

How to Become a Network Administrator [Career & Salary Guide]

How to Become a Network Administrator [Career & Salary Guide]

Now more than ever, businesses and organizations of all sizes and missions need it experts to manage their reckoner networks and go on them running smoothly. That's where network administrators come in.

"Figurer networking is at the heart of every business organisation, home and life," according to TechRepublic. "With the ascent of bogus intelligence, machine learning, Cyberspace of Things devices, blockchain technology and avant-garde analytics, networking is evolving faster than always."

Perhaps not surprisingly, network administrator is listed as one of the elevation ten in-need tech jobs for 2020, co-ordinate to CIO. Read on to learn more about the responsibilities of network administrators, career and salary outlooks and advice on how to position yourself for success in this widely sought-afterwards role.

What is a Network Ambassador?

What Does a Network Ambassador Do?

Why is There an Increased Demand for Network Administrators?

Boilerplate Bacon for Network Administrators

How to Get a Network Administrator

How Long Does information technology Take to Get a Network Ambassador

Network Administrator Hard Skills

Network Administrator Soft Skills

Certifications Needed

Types of Careers in Network Administration

Where Tin I Work as a Network Administrator

Best Geographic Markets for Network Administrator Jobs

Continuing Education for Network Administrators

How Exercise I Find a Chore in Network Administration?

What is a Network Administrator?

Computer and it jobs are on the rise — projected to grow 12% from 2022 to 2028, co-ordinate to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Within that umbrella of sought-afterwards jobs are network administrators, who are responsible for the daily operations of estimator networks.

Since these types of Information technology positions are in high demand, a network ambassador office is frequently a secure and lucrative one with the power to work within a wide variety of industries, including health intendance, hospitality, retail, finance and more. In other words, many medium-to-large-sized companies may need a network administrator, regardless of what services or products they sell. In smaller companies, sometimes this position overlaps with a systems administrator or some other Information technology professional.

What Does a Network Administrator Practise?

Calculator Scientific discipline, an organization that provides data on related programs and careers, explains that network administrators "design, manage, and maintain technological networks. They work within organizations and government agencies to oversee local area networks, wide surface area networks, network segments, and other data communication systems as needed."

Other central responsibilities from Network Interview, a website dedicated to professional network engineers sharing insight into their industry, include:

  • Monitoring the network
  • Ordering network equipment, including firewalls, switches, etc.
  • Configuring/racking/testing network equipment
  • Providing regular network maintenance for patching and updates
  • Network troubleshooting
  • Responsible for cabling

Why is There an Increased Demand for Network Administrators?

Since there is and then much more than figurer and information technology-related information in the world than ever before, positions are needed to maintain, support and secure computer systems, servers and networks.

Here's an caption from TechRepublic: "Near all major technologies are somehow dependent on networking and connectivity. Every bit these technologies advance, then does networking, as evidenced past mesh networks, border calculating, network function visualization, software-defined networking, 5G, and ultra-broadband technologies."

Employment for network administrators is projected to abound by 5% from 2022 to 2028, and "demand for information technology (IT) workers is loftier and should continue to grow every bit firms invest in newer, faster technology and mobile networks," according to a U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

Inside the reckoner system blueprint and related services manufacture, employment of network administrators is projected to grow 24% from 2022 to 2028.

Average Salary for Network Administrators

The median pay for network and calculator administrators is $83,510, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the highest ten% earning more than than $132,520.

CIO lists a salary range of $79,750 to $115,650, and ITCareerFinder also provides annual network administrator salaries by country, with the v top being:

  • Maryland — $108,190
  • District of Columbia — $99,920
  • New Jersey — $99,070
  • California — $97,810
  • New York — $94,940

Every bit you can see, network administrator salaries vary, and contributing factors include  job level, geographic location, instruction and feel.

How to Become a Network Administrator

In almost cases, an associate or available's degree in estimator scientific discipline or information technology is required for this position. There are likewise numerous certificates that may help you lot position yourself for a higher-paying chore, such equally CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and Cisco's CCNA. In some cases, it might exist helpful to pursue vendor-specific certifications, depending on the products and platforms your employer works with.

Advanced degrees are typically non required for a network administrator position, just they tin can assist yous stand out against the competition, and in some cases, they may be preferred or required by certain employers.

How Long Does information technology Accept to Become a Network Administrator

If you pursue an acquaintance caste, you could become an entry-level network administrator within a few years, whereas a bachelor's caste typically takes three-five years. It's also wise to recollect about earning internship experience.

Entry-level network administrator positions are available, only more avant-garde and senior-level roles require additional years of experience and sometimes more education. Certifications are likewise valuable and may assistance you lot secure a position more chop-chop.

Network Administrator Hard Skills

If you're thinking about pursuing a network administrator career path, here are some hard skills that are oftentimes required for the position, according to TechRepublic:

  • 2+ years of networking troubleshooting or technical experience
  • Knowledge of complex networks
  • The ability to manage, control and monitor server infrastructures
  • Knowledge of and experience with a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) and Virtual Individual Network (VPN)

Network Ambassador Soft Skills

Difficult skills may demonstrate your knowledge and experience, but soft skills tin can oft illustrate your power to collaborate with others and aid y'all successfully build relationships within a visitor, organisation or manufacture.

"Managing time, adapting to new situations, and working well under pressure are all soft skills that transfer to whatsoever workplace environment at any level of experience," according to Indeed.

Fifty-fifty though certain difficult skills are required for those pursuing a network ambassador career, TechRepublic explains that "companies are prioritizing soft skills in their Information technology professionals, and these skills apply to network administrators." These include:

  • Flexibility
  • Existence collaborative
  • Being a squad player and a leader
  • The ability to interact with multiple levels of an organization
  • Working independently without supervision
  • Skillful advice
  • The ability to adapt to modify

Certifications Needed

In some cases, certain certifications are required for network ambassador positions. Hither is a breakup of the near mutual ones:

  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CNNA) — Confirms your ability to work with routed and switched networks. This is Cisco'due south most popular certification, according to ITCareerFinder.
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional Routing & Switching (CCNP R&Southward) — Suitable for professionals with one year of experience who are looking to piece of work independently on complex network solutions.
  • Network+ (CompTIA) — A globally recognized certification, this is a good starting signal for It professionals since there are no prerequisites.
  • Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) — "Each MCSA certificate demonstrates your power to design and create engineering solutions in one of Microsoft'southward cadre business organisation platforms, e.g., Windows, Office, SQL Server and Azure," according to ITCareerFinder.
  • Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) — This is the next step afterwards the MCSA certification, which demonstrates your ability to build more than circuitous technology solutions.

Types of Careers in Network Administration

The didactics-based resource ComputerScience outlines the following positions, job descriptions and salaries that are related to network administration:

  • Figurer Systems Annotator — Assesses an employer's It needs and helps design, implement and maintain hardware and software. Median annual salary: $88,740
  • Computer Programmer — Writes, tests and corrects code for applications and programs, often using C++ and Java. Median annual bacon: $84,280
  • Reckoner and Information Systems Manager — Works with companies, businesses and organizations on hardware and software, including overseeing installation and coordinating needs based on upkeep. Median annual bacon: $142,530.
  • Software Developer — Designs and builds software applications, including maintaining detailed records related to functioning and upgrade recommendations. Median annual salary: $105,590.
  • Estimator Network Builder — Builds LANs, WANs and VPNs. Installs hardware and software, maintains security procedures and researches new technology. Median annual salary: $109,020.

Where Tin I Work as a Network Administrator

A recent search of network administrator positions on LinkedIn revealed more than 19,000 results. (You tin can see the complete list here.) Other job titles that you might come across in your search include Network/System Ambassador, Network Engineer, IT Organisation Ambassador, Terminate User Support Network Technician and more than.

Hither is a sampling of the companies that are hiring for this type of in-need position:

  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • City of Orlando
  • Robert Half
  • Teachers Federal Credit Union
  • MetroStar Systems
  • Harvard Partners, LLP
  • City of Greensboro, NC
  • Boeing Intelligence & Analytics
  • Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
  • Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.

All-time Geographic Markets for Network Administrator Jobs

There are network ambassador job opportunities across the U.s., only some regions are more heavily concentrated than others. Usa with the highest employment level of network and calculator systems administrators include:

State Employment Almanac hateful wage
Texas 35,890 $88,840
California 33,630 $99,480
New York 25,910 $97,820
Virginia 18,510 $92,720
Florida 17,930 $81,570

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels include:

Area Employment Almanac Mean Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City-NY-NJ-PA 27,140 $105,050
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria-DC-VA-Doc-WV xix,890 $101,510
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 12,610 $90,930
Los-Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA xi,850 $93,250
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WIL ix,460 $88,690

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Continuing Education for Network Administrators

In addition to certifications and other educational opportunities, earning a primary's degree tin can greatly expand your knowledge and skills and requite you lot a competitive edge in the job market.

Advanced degrees in IT, cybersecurity, network defense and information science can help y'all have your network administrator career to the adjacent level.

How Do I Find a Task in Network Administration?

Internships are not only a good way to proceeds feel, just too to get your foot in the door with a potential employer.

In add-on, job boards and online sites, including industry-specific ones such as Career Sidekick that offers the 24 Best Tech and IT Chore Boards for 2022 are a good resource for opportunities.

When it comes to the chore search, hither are a few helpful tips from Indeed:

  • Customize your resume — Don't use the same resume for every job application. Brand sure yours matches the description of the job for which you lot're applying, which means adding skills and any relevant experience.
  • Research companies — Before you lot apply, enquiry the hiring companies, which can give you lot a better thought of the company civilisation, benefits and salary range, work surround and more. You tin also utilize some of this information to your advantage in your encompass letter (and hopefully interview!).
  • Schedule informational interviews — In this type of interview, you sit down with professionals in the industry or company yous'd similar to work for — just to, as the name implies, find out more than data (as opposed to applying for a specific chore). This is smashing piece of communication for any applicant, regardless of manufacture, and it can bolster your network.

Educational Grooming for Network Administrators

This report is brought to you by the Academy of San Diego — a highly regarded industry thought leader and education provider that offers a 100% online Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership. This degree program features practical, cutting-edge curriculum taught by proficient instructors who share insights drawn from highly relevant industry feel.

What Are Another Superlative Cybersecurity Careers?

Cybersecurity is a fast-growing, high-paying field with a range of different types of chore openings. Which role might be ideal for you? Take a moment to explore some of the other heady careers in cybersecurity:

Cybersecurity Builder

Penetration Tester

Ethical Hacker

Security Consultant

Arrangement Ambassador

Cybersecurity Analyst

Security Auditor

Cybersecurity Specialist

Cybersecurity Consultant

Chief Data Security Officer (CISO)

Desire to encounter the elevation paying jobs in cybersecurity? Read this article.

Want to see the top entry level jobs in cybersecurity? Read this article.

Want to run into the pinnacle non-technical jobs in cybersecurity? Read this commodity.

Want to learn how to land the best jobs in cybersecurity? Read this article.

Michelle Moore, PhD

Academic Director of the Master of Scientific discipline in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership

Dr. Michelle Moore is academic director and professor of practice for the Academy of San Diego's innovative online Master of Scientific discipline in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership caste program. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy Administration with a concentration in Homeland Security, a main's degree in the Management of Information Systems and an undergraduate degree in Business organisation Assistants. Her research topics are dedicated to the ongoing progression of cybersecurity, cyber law, cybercrime, national and international cyber policy, and disaster recovery efforts.