Network and Computer Systems Administrators build judgment and decision making, troubleshooting and systems analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Computer Hardware Engineers (63%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 63% | $161,740 | +63% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 62% | $78,190 | −21% | None |
| 3 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 61% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Robotics Engineers | 61% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 61% | $106,730 | +8% | None |
| 6 | Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | 61% | $82,890 | −16% | None |
| 7 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 60% | $130,220 | +31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Aviation Inspectors | 59% | $92,100Pay for the broader BLS group “Transportation Inspectors” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Photonics Technicians | 56% | $78,350Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Avionics Technicians | 56% | $82,280 | −17% | None |
Compared with Network and Computer Systems Administrators, median $99,130. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as network and computer systems administrators (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
63% skill match · $161,740 · +63% pay
Operations Analysis
62% skill match · $78,190 · −21% pay
Repairing · Installation · Management of Financial Resources
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
61% skill match · $130,220 (broader BLS group)
Persuasion
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Computer Hardware Engineers (63% skill match, median $161,740), Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (62% skill match, median $78,190) and Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (61% skill match, median $130,220), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 11 pay more than network and computer systems administrators at the median. The biggest increases: Computer and Information Systems Managers (+77%, $175,140), Computer Hardware Engineers (+63%, $161,740) and Air Traffic Controllers (+49%, $148,080).
13 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.