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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 $105,592, with entry-level positions averaging $61,243 and senior roles reaching $158,388. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $192,920, 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.
$117,390 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Network Administrator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $192,920 — $117,390 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($75,530). 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: $61,243 at entry (P10), $105,592 at midpoint, and $158,388 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $97,145 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $25,225 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $180,180 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $76,137 (average of the bottom 3). That $104,043 delta is real money — $8,670/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 Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $192,920 — $117,390 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($75,530). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Network Administrator is $61,243, while senior-level (P90) earners average $158,388. That $97,145 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Network Administrators at $127,833 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $112,385) is $15,448.
At the 90th percentile, Network Administrators pull in an average of $158,388. 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 | $61,243 | $105,592 | $158,388 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £47,314 | £65,714 | £93,314 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$62,326 | CA$86,564 | CA$122,921 |
| Australia | 13 | A$72,723 | A$101,004 | A$143,425 |
| Sweden | 24 | 447,840 kr | 622,000 kr | 883,240 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $74,143 | $127,833 | $191,749 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $71,649 | $123,533 | $185,299 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $71,253 | $122,850 | $184,275 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $65,975 | $113,750 | $170,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $65,183 | $112,385 | $168,578 |
| Washington | 8 | $63,930 | $110,224 | $165,336 |
| New York | 5 | $60,169 | $103,740 | $155,610 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $60,169 | $103,740 | $155,610 |
| Florida | 22 | $59,713 | $102,954 | $154,431 |
| Colorado | 11 | $58,682 | $101,175 | $151,763 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $58,586 | $101,010 | $151,515 |
| Nevada | 5 | $58,480 | $100,828 | $151,242 |
| Arizona | 12 | $58,190 | $100,328 | $150,491 |
| Oregon | 5 | $58,058 | $100,100 | $150,150 |
| Idaho | 3 | $57,882 | $99,797 | $149,695 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $57,425 | $99,008 | $148,512 |
| Utah | 4 | $57,267 | $98,735 | $148,103 |
| Virginia | 7 | $56,324 | $97,110 | $145,665 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $55,595 | $95,853 | $143,780 |
| Alaska | 1 | $55,419 | $95,550 | $143,325 |
| Illinois | 5 | $54,786 | $94,458 | $141,687 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $53,425 | $92,112 | $138,168 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $52,780 | $91,000 | $136,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $52,780 | $91,000 | $136,500 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $52,604 | $90,697 | $136,045 |
| Texas | 40 | $52,345 | $90,249 | $135,374 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $52,253 | $90,090 | $135,135 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $51,989 | $89,635 | $134,453 |
| Georgia | 6 | $51,812 | $89,332 | $133,998 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $51,724 | $89,180 | $133,770 |
| Kansas | 4 | $51,461 | $88,725 | $133,088 |
| Michigan | 6 | $51,284 | $88,422 | $132,633 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $50,669 | $87,360 | $131,040 |
| Maryland | 1 | $50,669 | $87,360 | $131,040 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $50,141 | $86,450 | $129,675 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $50,141 | $86,450 | $129,675 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $48,822 | $84,175 | $126,263 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $48,558 | $83,720 | $125,580 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $47,898 | $82,583 | $123,874 |
| Missouri | 4 | $47,898 | $82,583 | $123,874 |
| Alabama | 5 | $47,713 | $82,264 | $123,396 |
| Indiana | 3 | $46,974 | $80,990 | $121,485 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $46,974 | $80,990 | $121,485 |
| Iowa | 2 | $46,446 | $80,080 | $120,120 |
| Ohio | 6 | $46,358 | $79,928 | $119,893 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $44,335 | $76,440 | $114,660 |
Geography shapes Network Administrator pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $127,833 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio 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. Sunnyvale ($192,920 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $91,000 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 | Sunnyvale California | $192,920 | 212 | $91,000 | $113,082 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $180,180 | 198 | $91,000 | $106,147 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $167,440 | 184 | $91,000 | $99,133 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $164,710 | 181 | $91,000 | $97,630 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $161,980 | 178 | $91,000 | $96,127 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $161,070 | 177 | $91,000 | $95,627 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $161,070 | 177 | $91,000 | $95,627 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $157,430 | 173 | $91,000 | $93,623 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $157,430 | 173 | $91,000 | $93,623 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $153,790 | 169 | $91,000 | $91,619 |
From a career planning perspective, Network Administrator offers a $97,145 earning range. The 2.6× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. 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 $105,592 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $61,243, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $158,388.
The highest-paying city for Network Administrators is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $192,920. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($192,920), Santa Clara ($180,180), Irvine ($167,440). 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 $75,530. 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 $61,243 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $111,894. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Network Administrators average $158,388 nationally — $97,145 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Network Administrators can earn up to $289,380.
The top-paying states for Network Administrators are California ($127,833 median), Massachusetts ($123,533 median), Hawaii ($122,850 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 $105,592 and representation across 288 metro areas, Network Administrator offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $97,145 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.