Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Occupation · SOC 15-1244.00
Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.
Also called: Information Technology Specialist (IT Specialist) · Local Area Network Administrator (LAN Administrator) · Network Administrator · Systems Administrator (Systems Admin) · Information Analyst · LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist) · Network Coordinator · Network Manager · AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist) · Application Security Administrator · Application Systems Administrator · Computer Systems Security Administrator
Job family: Computer and Mathematical Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-15-1244-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-4.2% by 2034)
- 14,300 openings/yr
- High AI exposure
- Median pay $96,800/yr
85th-percentile task overlap — yet about 14,300 openings a year (-4.2% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High | 81st | 0.9 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) High | 81st | 0.3 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.5), with simple added tooling (β 0.7), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.9). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary. | 281.6% | |
| Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware. | 7.0% | |
| Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software. | 4.6% | |
| Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes. | 2.0% | |
| Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. | 1.0% | |
| Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement. | 0.7% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -4.2% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 14,300 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 331,500 → 317,700 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Tasks
All 20 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations. Core · importance 4.3
- Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. Core · importance 4.1
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary. Core · importance 4.1
- Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software. Core · importance 4.0
- Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use. Core · importance 3.9
- Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future. Core · importance 3.8
- Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware. Core · importance 3.7
- Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement. Core · importance 3.6
- Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems. Core · importance 3.6
- Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes. Core · importance 3.6
- Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software. Core · importance 3.6
- Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records. Core · importance 3.4
- Load computer tapes and disks, and install software and printer paper or forms. Core · importance 3.4
- Train people in computer system use. Core · importance 3.3
- Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records. Core · importance 3.3
- Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements. Core · importance 3.2
- Coordinate with vendors and with company personnel to facilitate purchases. Core · importance 3.1
- Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs. Supplemental · importance 3.0
- Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies. Supplemental · importance 3.0
Work activities
- Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
- Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.
- Maintain computer networks to enhance performance and user access.
- Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
- Monitor the performance of computer networks.
- Document operational activities.
- Test computer hardware performance.
- Test software performance.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
- Identify information technology project resource requirements.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Provide technical support for computer network issues.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Install computer hardware.
- Collect data about customer needs.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Document network-related activities or tasks.
- Maintain the inventory of equipment.
- Coordinate resource procurement activities.
- Resolve computer network problems.
- Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.
- Resolve computer software problems.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Computers and Electronics | 4.9 | |
| English Language | 3.8 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.6 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.6 | |
| Telecommunications | 3.2 | |
| Mathematics | 3.2 | |
| Administrative | 3.1 |
Abilities
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.0 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.9 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.8 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.8 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.8 | |
| Near Vision | 3.6 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.5 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.4 | |
| Written Expression | 3.3 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.3 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.3 | |
| Originality | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.1 |
Essential skills
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Monitoring | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
Transferable skills
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Systems Analysis | 3.9 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.8 | |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.8 | |
| Programming | 3.6 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Showing the top 40 of 107.
Tools & technology
Showing the top 40 of 261.
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Preparation level
- SVP (7.0 to < 8.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.4% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 20.3% | |
| Master's Degree | 10.1% | |
| Some College Courses | 9.7% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 7.5% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Information Technology | 6.6 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 4.0 | |
| Engineering | 3.2 | |
| Management/Administration | 3.0 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 2.4 | |
| Office Work | 2.0 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Conventional | 6.2 | |
| Realistic | 4.2 | |
| Investigative | 4.0 | |
| Enterprising | 3.5 | |
| Social | 2.2 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 5.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 4.0 | |
| Integrity | 3.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.4 | |
| Intellectual Curiosity | 2.2 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $60,320 |
| 25th percentile | $75,860 |
| Median (50th) | $96,800 |
| 75th percentile | $123,390 |
| 90th percentile | $150,320 |
| People employed | 318,570 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 87,740 | $100,810 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 35,420 | $83,620 |
| Information · Sector | 26,840 | $101,140 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 26,190 | $99,420 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 23,550 | $101,600 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 20,950 | $96,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 17,710 | $94,930 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 16,560 | $90,000 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 13,230 | $96,370 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 7,870 | $103,090 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 7,660 | $98,160 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 5,300 | $88,660 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Information · Sector | 4.47× | 26,840 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 4.06× | 23,550 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 3.94× | 87,740 |
| Engineering Services · National industry | 3.29× | 7,870 |
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers · National industry | 2.96× | 2,750 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities · National industry | 2.23× | 280 |
| Finance and Insurance · Sector | 2.04× | 26,190 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations · National industry | 2.01× | 270 |
Related occupations
Part of the Digital Technology career cluster.
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- Computer Systems Engineers/Architects · 15-1299.08 Compare →
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- Information Security Engineers · 15-1299.05 Compare →
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Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Network and Computer Systems Administrators — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Bachelor's degree · typical entry level
- Job zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services · field of study
Zoom out
See where this work sits in the bigger picture.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Network and Computer Systems Administrators show 85th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 14,300 annual U.S. openings
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators rank in the 85th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 14,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-4.2%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $96,800, across about 318,570 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Network and Computer Systems Administrators show 85th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 14,300 annual U.S. openings • Network and Computer Systems Administrators rank in the 85th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 14,300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-4.2%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $96,800, across about 318,570 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Network and Computer Systems Administrators". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1244-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Network and Computer Systems Administrators." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1244-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Network and Computer Systems Administrators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1244-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-15-1244-00,
title = {Network and Computer Systems Administrators},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-15-1244-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.