Salary report · US · 2026
Network Administrator Salary
The average network administrator salary is $69,449 per year in the United States in 2026. Base pay runs from $51,000 at the 10th percentile to $95,000 at the 90th, with a median of $69,000. Bonuses add $618–$7,000, putting total pay between roughly $50,000 and $95,000.
Definition & distribution
What is the average network administrator salary?
A network administrator earns an average base salary of $69,449 per year in the US as of 2026. The role keeps network infrastructure running, and pay rises as administrators add advanced networking, firewall, and security responsibility.
The 10th percentile at $51,000 is 26% below the $69,000 median, while the 90th at $95,000 is 38% above it. The upper tail belongs to administrators with strong Cisco, firewall, and security skills — effectively the path toward network-engineer roles.
Known limitations. This record is built on 1,706 salary profiles (last updated May 2026). The median is reliable; the upper range often reflects administrators moving toward network-engineering scope.
Pay components
How is network administrator total pay structured?
Reported total compensation for network administrators has two components: base salary and a modest annual bonus.
| Component | Low | High | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $51,000 | $95,000 | Dense around the $69k median |
| Annual bonus | $618 | $7,000 | Up to ~7% of top-end base |
| Total pay | $50,000 | $95,000 | Base plus reported bonus |
Pay by experience
How does experience change a network administrator salary?
Network administrator pay rises steadily with experience as administrators add advanced networking and security skills. Entry-level staff sit about 20% below the role average, and experienced administrators reach roughly 17% above.
- 01
Entry level (<1 year): ~$55,800 total pay
About 20% below the role average, from administrators new to network operations.
- 02
Early to mid career: −7% to +2%
Pay reaches the role average as administrators add Cisco, firewall, and Active Directory depth.
- 03
Experienced: +17% over average
The top of the range, usually held by administrators moving toward network-engineering roles.
Skills
Which skills affect a network administrator salary?
Reported skills split into three tiers. Network support is the baseline; Cisco and firewall skills command a premium; and security and design open the path to network engineering.
- 01
Network support — the baseline
Network administration and support appear on nearly every profile. They define the role.
- 02
Cisco & firewalls — the premium tier
Cisco networking and switch/firewall installation map to the upper end of the range.
- 03
Security & design — the promotion tier
Network security and design skills are the path into higher-paid network-engineer roles.
Check your pay
Where does your salary fall?
Enter your current base salary to see where it falls against the 2026 US distribution for network administrators. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.
Raising your pay
How can network administrators increase their salary?
Three mechanisms reliably move network administrator pay, in descending order of effect:
- 01
Add Cisco, firewall & security depth
Advanced networking and security skills are the clearest path up this role's range.
- 02
Earn networking certifications
Certifications open the path into higher-paid network-engineer titles.
- 03
Change employers
Larger employers and higher-cost metros re-price network work upward.
FAQ
Network Administrator salary: FAQ
About $95,000 per year at the 90th percentile of base pay. With bonuses of up to $7,000, top-end total compensation lands around $95,000 on file.
About $51,000 per year at the 10th percentile of base pay. Figures this low typically reflect administrators new to network operations or in lower-cost markets.
Most reliably by adding Cisco, firewall, and security depth, earning networking certifications, and moving toward network-engineering roles.
Sometimes, and they are modest. Reported annual bonuses range from about $618 to $7,000, bringing total pay to between roughly $50,000 and $95,000 per year.
Reliable at the median, built on 1,706 salary profiles reported to PayScale (updated May 2026). The upper range often reflects administrators moving into network engineering.
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