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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Part of Information Technology, in the Network Systems pathway.

Job zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 15-1244.00

What the work is

Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

On a typical day

  • Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
  • Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
  • Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
  • Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use.
  • Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records.
  • Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software.

What it pays

$96,770
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $61,620
Experienced workers reach $132,600
  1. $62k10th
  2. $77k25th
  3. $97kMedian
  4. $119k75th
  5. $133k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $61,620, 25th $77,190, Median $96,770, 75th $118,700, 90th $132,600

About 2,340 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+8.0%

employment change in the Alamo region, 2,734 to 2,953 jobs · U.S. -4%

160

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 14,300

2,734

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 331,500

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Reading Comprehension4.0
  2. Critical Thinking3.9
  3. Judgment and Decision Making3.9
  4. Systems Analysis3.9
  5. Systems Evaluation4.1
  6. Complex Problem Solving4.0
  7. Troubleshooting4.0
  8. Active Listening3.9

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Certificate7%
  2. Some college10%
  3. Associate degree20%
  4. Bachelor's degree52%
  5. Master's degree10%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • San Antonio
  • Alamo Institutes
  1. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Level 1 Certificate

    Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  2. CompTIA Linux+ Certification Preparation (OSA)

    Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  3. Network Administration Technology, A.A.S.

    Degree · Online option · Science & Technology

  4. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  5. Network Administrator

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  6. Network and Cloud Architecture

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  7. Computer Information Systems

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  8. Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

    Degree · Certificate · Online option · Science & Technology

  9. Linux Installation and Configuration

    Workforce course · Online option · Science & Technology

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