Network Administrators

ANZSCO ID 263112

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
5,700
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
89%
Female Share
10%
Average age
39

Summary

Network Administrators install and maintain hardware and software, document diagnosis and resolution of faults, manage user passwords, security and inventory documentation, ensure the efficient performance of servers, printers and personal computers, and attend to other operational tasks. They may also perform tasks such as help desk support and user training.

Specialisations: LAN Administrator.

A bachelor degree in a related information technology field (such as network systems administration) is usually needed to work as a Network Administrator. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.

Tasks

  • Provides specialist skills in supporting and troubleshooting network problems and emergencies.

  • Installs, configures, tests, maintains and administers new and upgraded networks, software database applications, servers and workstations.

  • Provides network programming in support of specific business needs and requirements.

  • Prepares and maintains procedures and documentation for network inventory, and records diagnosis and resolution of network faults, enhancements and modifications to networks, and maintenance instructions.

Characteristics

Job Type
Professionals
Skill Level
Very high skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Administrative
  • Enterprising
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary
  • Light

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Computer Network Professionals, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 89% of people employed as Network Administrators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
26.2%
2
Education and Training
16.6%
3
Information Media and Telecommunications
11.9%
4
Public Administration and Safety
10.1%
5
Other industries
32.6%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

31.3% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

30.4% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

13.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.7% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

10.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.7% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

4.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Network Administrators All Jobs Average
NSW 31.3 31.6
VIC 30.4 25.6
QLD 13.6 20.0
SA 7.7 7.0
WA 10.6 10.8
TAS 1.7 2.0
NT 0.6 1.0
ACT 4.1 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
39
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
10%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Network Administrators is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.

    Females make up 10% of the workforce. This is 38 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Network Administrators All Jobs Average
15-19 0.5 5.0
20-24 4.6 9.3
25-34 28.7 22.9
35-44 32.1 22.0
45-54 22.5 21.6
55-59 6.7 9.0
60-64 3.4 6.0
65 and Over 1.4 4.2
Median Age 39 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A bachelor degree in a related information technology field (such as network systems administration) is usually needed to work as a Network Administrator. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Network Administrators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 13.9 10.1
Bachelor degree 30.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 22.3 11.6
Certificate III/IV 13.6 21.1
Year 12 15.0 18.1
Year 11 1.8 4.8
Year 10 and below 2.4 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Computer Network Professionals who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong computer skills.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 63%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 61%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 61%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 61%

    Programming

    Writing computer programs.

  • 61%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 59%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 59%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 57%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 57%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 57%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 57%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 57%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 55%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 55%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 54%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 52%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 52%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 52%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 52%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 48%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 81%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 67%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 57%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 55%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 50%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 48%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 42%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 36%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 31%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 29%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 21%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 21%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 19%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 16%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 16%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 15%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 14%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 13%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 11%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 9%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 64%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 61%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 61%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 61%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 59%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 57%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 57%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 57%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 55%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 54%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 54%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 52%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 52%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 50%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 50%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 48%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 46%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 46%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 46%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 83%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 81%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 80%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 78%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 75%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 71%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 70%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 70%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 69%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 66%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 65%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 64%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 61%

    Giving expert advice

    Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.

  • 57%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 55%

    Coming up with systems and processes

    Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.

  • 53%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 52%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 50%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 48%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 48%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 86%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 81%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 67%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 57%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 29%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 24%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 79%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 76%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 67%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 67%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.

  • 62%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 57%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 97%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 94%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 92%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 89%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 86%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 84%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 84%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 82%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 81%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 80%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 71%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 69%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 68%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 68%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 66%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 66%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 66%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 64%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 62%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 15-1142.00 - Network and Computer Systems Administrators.


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