At a glance
Median pay for Network and Computer Systems Administrators runs from $80,440 in Pittsburgh to $133,360 in San Jose across 75 curated metros; the middle value is $97,180.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($120,772), Baltimore ($117,670), Washington ($115,196).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Network and Computer Systems Administrators salary comparison
Systems administrator pay varies with environment size, cloud versus on-premises work and on-call duties. A metro median mixes small-office and enterprise roles. 75 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $133,360 | $120,772 | $2,840 |
| Baltimore, MD | $122,950 | $117,670 | $1,611 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $125,430 | $115,196 | $2,027 |
| Durham, NC | $110,640 | $113,393 | $1,466 |
| San Francisco, CA | $129,680 | $112,167 | $2,474 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,750 | $110,769 | $1,274 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $117,200 | $109,672 | $1,875 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $116,770 | $107,855 | $2,023 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $97,770 | $107,700 | $1,135 |
| Austin, TX | $104,520 | $106,581 | $1,726 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $101,530 | $106,459 | $1,105 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $119,390 | $106,065 | $1,830 |
| Raleigh, NC | $103,380 | $105,321 | $1,573 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $96,110 | $103,262 | $1,116 |
| Dayton, OH | $95,680 | $103,221 | $1,039 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $103,440 | $103,218 | $1,626 |
| Houston, TX | $101,430 | $102,840 | $1,430 |
| Hartford, CT | $105,580 | $102,758 | $1,416 |
| Greenville, SC | $95,740 | $102,659 | $1,150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $96,140 | $102,360 | $1,050 |
Show all 75 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $133,360 | $120,772 | $2,840 |
| Baltimore, MD | $122,950 | $117,670 | $1,611 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $125,430 | $115,196 | $2,027 |
| Durham, NC | $110,640 | $113,393 | $1,466 |
| San Francisco, CA | $129,680 | $112,167 | $2,474 |
| Columbus, OH | $105,750 | $110,769 | $1,274 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $117,200 | $109,672 | $1,875 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $116,770 | $107,855 | $2,023 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $97,770 | $107,700 | $1,135 |
| Austin, TX | $104,520 | $106,581 | $1,726 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $101,530 | $106,459 | $1,105 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $119,390 | $106,065 | $1,830 |
| Raleigh, NC | $103,380 | $105,321 | $1,573 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $96,110 | $103,262 | $1,116 |
| Dayton, OH | $95,680 | $103,221 | $1,039 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $103,440 | $103,218 | $1,626 |
| Houston, TX | $101,430 | $102,840 | $1,430 |
| Hartford, CT | $105,580 | $102,758 | $1,416 |
| Greenville, SC | $95,740 | $102,659 | $1,150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $96,140 | $102,360 | $1,050 |
| San Antonio, TX | $96,770 | $102,169 | $1,363 |
| Richmond, VA | $99,750 | $101,933 | $1,447 |
| Atlanta, GA | $101,000 | $100,941 | $1,672 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $91,160 | $100,832 | $1,124 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $98,640 | $100,714 | $1,478 |
| Tampa, FL | $101,560 | $100,664 | $1,628 |
| Dallas, TX | $103,260 | $100,165 | $1,614 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $99,460 | $99,976 | $1,513 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $101,450 | $99,683 | $1,307 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $103,170 | $99,590 | $1,430 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $91,980 | $99,392 | $1,249 |
| Denver, CO | $105,090 | $99,346 | $1,874 |
| New Orleans, LA | $91,570 | $98,891 | $1,217 |
| Worcester, MA | $100,790 | $98,310 | $1,426 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $99,110 | $98,257 | $1,583 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,800 | $98,247 | $1,819 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $102,790 | $98,061 | $1,440 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $100,460 | $97,958 | $1,480 |
| Des Moines, IA | $89,800 | $97,927 | $1,150 |
| Buffalo, NY | $93,830 | $97,899 | $1,057 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $93,440 | $97,796 | $1,202 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $102,950 | $97,656 | $1,724 |
| Rochester, NY | $94,130 | $97,006 | $1,143 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $89,090 | $96,931 | $1,192 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $89,250 | $96,822 | $1,220 |
| Nashville, TN | $93,170 | $96,712 | $1,528 |
| Charleston, SC | $97,480 | $96,551 | $1,605 |
| Detroit, MI | $96,400 | $96,114 | $1,207 |
| Boise City, ID | $94,140 | $95,679 | $1,487 |
| Albany, NY | $95,140 | $95,555 | $1,280 |
| Tulsa, OK | $85,110 | $95,400 | $1,078 |
| Greensboro, NC | $88,580 | $95,386 | $1,093 |
| Knoxville, TN | $87,400 | $94,416 | $1,145 |
| Madison, WI | $91,580 | $94,134 | $1,354 |
| San Diego, CA | $105,170 | $93,997 | $2,246 |
| Seattle, WA | $104,440 | $93,977 | $2,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $89,770 | $93,807 | $1,191 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $106,290 | $93,593 | $2,063 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $88,940 | $93,534 | $1,113 |
| Riverside, CA | $99,030 | $93,037 | $1,846 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $90,140 | $92,988 | $1,139 |
| Little Rock, AR | $83,090 | $92,979 | $1,055 |
| Columbia, SC | $86,650 | $92,514 | $1,193 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $89,990 | $92,442 | $1,473 |
| Birmingham, AL | $84,350 | $92,041 | $1,172 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $102,050 | $91,969 | $2,083 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $93,730 | $90,722 | $1,702 |
| Tucson, AZ | $87,780 | $90,592 | $1,212 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $86,540 | $90,574 | $1,156 |
| Orlando, FL | $91,800 | $90,516 | $1,760 |
| Fresno, CA | $92,200 | $90,252 | $1,392 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $89,000 | $89,028 | $1,365 |
| Miami, FL | $97,180 | $85,130 | $1,869 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $80,440 | $84,968 | $1,053 |
| North Port, FL | $84,350 | $82,359 | $1,747 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 75 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Network and Computer Systems Administrators varies across metros
Across the 75 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Network and Computer Systems Administrators runs from $80,440 in Pittsburgh to $133,360 in San Jose, a 1.66× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $82,359 in North Port to $120,772 in San Jose, a 1.47× difference. The middle value across these metros is $97,180 nominal and $97,958 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 75 metros, Oklahoma City moves from 57th on nominal pay to 24th on adjusted pay while Los Angeles moves from 9th to 58th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $78,530 | $102,680 | $133,360 | $167,710 | $198,860 |
| Baltimore, MD | $74,430 | $94,320 | $122,950 | $159,450 | $192,160 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $78,450 | $98,650 | $125,430 | $153,220 | $180,360 |
| Durham, NC | $65,200 | $81,710 | $110,640 | $140,280 | $166,440 |
| San Francisco, CA | $82,760 | $100,850 | $129,680 | $163,550 | $193,250 |
| Columbus, OH | $65,780 | $82,170 | $105,750 | $143,780 | $143,780 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Network and computer systems administrators from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of -4.1% ranks 75th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 13,400 projected annual openings rank 62nd. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 323,600 workers in 2025; projected 310,400 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Network and systems administrators keep servers, networks and cloud services running, and duties vary between small offices and large data-center or cloud environments. On-call duty and after-hours maintenance are common.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask about the on-call rotation and how it is compensated, which technologies you would manage, and how much work is cloud versus on-premises. Compare expected certifications and whether training is paid for.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Network and Computer Systems Administrators in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 75 metros, it ranks 2nd on nominal median and 5th on price-adjusted median.
For the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $129,680. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $100,850 to $163,550. The price-adjusted median of $112,167 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 115.6 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $2,474 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$12. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Durham has a published BLS median of $110,640 and adjusted median of $113,393. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare San Francisco with Durham in the interactive tool, or review the San Francisco metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.