Career comparison
IT Support Specialist vs. Network Administrator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Network administrators earn more at the median ($99,130 vs. $61,860), while IT support specialists usually get to work faster (3–6 months of training). IT support specialists help people solve computer, account and network problems: the classic way into IT. Network administrators design, run and secure the networks and servers organizations depend on.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| IT Support Specialist | Network Administrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,860 ($29.74/hr) | $99,130 ($47.66/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,980 – $100,540 | $62,640 – $155,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -3.5% (a projected decline) | -4.1% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 39,700 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | Some college, no degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 3–6 months | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA A+ | CompTIA Network+ |
| Work setting | IT support specialists work for companies of every kind, managed service providers (MSPs), schools and government. | Network administrators work in offices, data centers and remotely for businesses, schools, hospitals, government and managed service providers. |
What each job does
IT Support Specialist
- Respond to help desk tickets, calls and chats
- Troubleshoot hardware, software and connectivity issues
- Set up and configure computers, phones and peripherals
- Manage user accounts, passwords and permissions
- Install updates and support security tools
Network Administrator
- Install and configure network hardware and software
- Manage switches, routers, firewalls and wireless access points
- Monitor network performance and security
- Administer servers, user accounts and cloud services
- Apply updates, patches and configuration changes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, indoor work, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose IT support specialist if…
- I enjoy fixing tech problems
- I stay patient when people are frustrated
- I like learning new technology
Choose network administrator if…
- I like understanding how systems connect and communicate
- I troubleshoot methodically
- I’m OK with after-hours maintenance sometimes
Still torn? Take the IT Support Specialist fit quiz and the Network Administrator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, IT support specialist or network administrator?
Network Administrators earn more at the median: $99,130 versus $61,860 for IT support specialists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
IT Support Specialists typically train faster (3–6 months) than network administrators (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects IT support specialists to grow -3.5% from 2025–35, compared with -4.1% for network administrators.