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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Don't just look at the top-paying city — look at the cost-adjusted column. The national median salary for Network Administrators in 2026 is $101,643, with entry-level positions averaging $73,183 and senior roles reaching $144,333. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $189,194, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Network Administrator sits at the intersection of Technology and Technology. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in IT, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is on-site/hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$110,331 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Network Administrator in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $189,194 — $110,331 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,863). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Network Administrators in 2026: $73,183 at entry (P10), $101,643 at midpoint, and $144,333 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $71,150 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $21,276 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $179,086 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $80,802 (average of the bottom 3). That $98,284 delta is real money — $8,190/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Network Administrator in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $189,194 — $110,331 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,863). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Network Administrator is $73,183, while senior-level (P90) earners average $144,333. That $71,150 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Network Administrators at $129,117 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $106,040) is $23,077.
At the 90th percentile, Network Administrators pull in an average of $144,333. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $73,183 | $101,643 | $144,333 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £45,725 | £63,507 | £90,180 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$59,271 | CA$82,321 | CA$116,896 |
| Australia | 13 | A$68,702 | A$95,419 | A$135,495 |
| Sweden | 24 | 432,752 kr | 601,045 kr | 853,483 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $92,964 | $129,117 | $183,346 |
| California | 61 | $83,526 | $116,008 | $164,731 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $80,520 | $111,834 | $158,804 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $78,409 | $108,901 | $154,639 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $76,349 | $106,040 | $150,577 |
| Washington | 8 | $74,821 | $103,919 | $147,564 |
| Oregon | 5 | $73,987 | $102,760 | $145,919 |
| Colorado | 11 | $73,596 | $102,217 | $145,148 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $73,557 | $102,162 | $145,071 |
| New York | 5 | $73,204 | $101,673 | $144,375 |
| Illinois | 5 | $73,040 | $101,444 | $144,050 |
| Nevada | 5 | $72,202 | $100,280 | $142,398 |
| Virginia | 7 | $72,161 | $100,223 | $142,317 |
| Idaho | 3 | $72,161 | $100,223 | $142,317 |
| Utah | 4 | $71,560 | $99,389 | $141,132 |
| Florida | 22 | $71,493 | $99,296 | $141,000 |
| Arizona | 12 | $71,423 | $99,198 | $140,862 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $71,337 | $99,079 | $140,692 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $70,513 | $97,935 | $139,067 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $70,032 | $97,267 | $138,119 |
| Michigan | 6 | $69,952 | $97,156 | $137,961 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $69,918 | $97,108 | $137,894 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $69,771 | $96,905 | $137,605 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $68,659 | $95,360 | $135,411 |
| Alaska | 1 | $68,659 | $95,360 | $135,411 |
| Iowa | 2 | $68,659 | $95,360 | $135,411 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $68,659 | $95,360 | $135,411 |
| Montana | 1 | $68,659 | $95,360 | $135,411 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $67,721 | $94,057 | $133,560 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $67,629 | $93,930 | $133,380 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $67,621 | $93,919 | $133,365 |
| Texas | 40 | $67,530 | $93,791 | $133,184 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $67,303 | $93,477 | $132,737 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,114 | $93,215 | $132,365 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $67,029 | $93,095 | $132,195 |
| Indiana | 3 | $66,851 | $92,849 | $131,845 |
| Alabama | 5 | $66,105 | $91,813 | $130,374 |
| Ohio | 6 | $65,958 | $91,609 | $130,085 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $65,914 | $91,546 | $129,996 |
| Maryland | 1 | $65,844 | $91,450 | $129,859 |
| Missouri | 4 | $65,793 | $91,379 | $129,758 |
| Kansas | 4 | $65,638 | $91,164 | $129,453 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $65,364 | $90,783 | $128,912 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $65,020 | $90,306 | $128,235 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $60,832 | $84,489 | $119,974 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $58,017 | $80,579 | $114,422 |
Geography shapes Network Administrator pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $129,117 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($189,194 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $95,553 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $139,702 | 146 | $95,686 | $83,863 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $189,194 | 198 | $95,553 | $111,109 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $144,280 | 151 | $95,550 | $92,588 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $161,444 | 169 | $95,529 | $95,832 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $169,073 | 177 | $95,521 | $100,032 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $175,748 | 184 | $95,515 | $103,707 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $161,349 | 169 | $95,473 | $117,240 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $153,434 | 161 | $95,301 | $91,423 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $140,084 | 147 | $95,295 | $84,074 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $139,130 | 146 | $95,295 | $83,549 |
From a career planning perspective, Network Administrator offers a $71,150 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in IT. Day-to-day, expect on-site/hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Network Administrators is $101,643 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $73,183, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $144,333.
The highest-paying city for Network Administrators is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $189,194. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($189,194), Irvine ($175,748), San Francisco ($172,316). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Network Administrator salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $78,863. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Network Administrators (10th percentile) average $73,183 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $136,220. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Network Administrators average $144,333 nationally — $71,150 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Network Administrators can earn up to $268,655.
The top-paying states for Network Administrators are Hawaii ($129,117 median), California ($116,008 median), Massachusetts ($111,834 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Network Administrator involves Bachelor's in IT. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically on-site/hybrid.
With a national median of $101,643 and representation across 288 metro areas, Network Administrator offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $71,150 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.