Career comparison
Network Administrator vs. Network Technician
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. $76,220), while network technicians usually get to work faster (6 months–2 years of training). Network administrators design, run and secure the networks and servers organizations depend on. Network technicians install, monitor and troubleshoot the networks that connect computers and people.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Network Administrator | Network Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,130 ($47.66/hr) | $76,220 ($36.64/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $62,640 – $155,050 | $47,120 – $127,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -4.1% (a projected decline) | +1.2% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 13,400 | 9,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 1–4 years | 6 months–2 years |
| Key credential | CompTIA Network+ | CompTIA Network+ |
| Work setting | Network administrators work in offices, data centers and remotely for businesses, schools, hospitals, government and managed service providers. | Technicians work in offices, data centers, wiring closets and network operations centers. |
What each job does
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
Network Technician
- Install and configure network equipment
- Monitor network performance and alerts
- Troubleshoot connectivity problems
- Install and test network cabling
- Maintain network documentation
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, problem-solving, indoor work, and high-pay. Both are part of the technology field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose network administrator if…
- I like understanding how systems connect and communicate
- I troubleshoot methodically
- I’m OK with after-hours maintenance sometimes
Choose network technician if…
- I like figuring out why things aren’t working
- I enjoy hands-on tech work
- I can stay calm during outages
Still torn? Take the Network Administrator fit quiz and the Network Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, network administrator or network technician?
Network Administrators earn more at the median: $99,130 versus $76,220 for network technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Network Technicians typically train faster (6 months–2 years) than network administrators (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects network technicians to grow +1.2% from 2025–35, compared with -4.1% for network administrators.