The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) projects that employment of network and computer systems administrators will decline by 3 percent from 2023 to 2033. The DOL says that network and computer systems administrators "will continue to be needed throughout the economy to maintain and upgrade computer networks. However, some of their tasks are increasingly being done by software developers focused on DevOps (development operations), and some tasks are being outsourced to companies who provide Networks-as-a-Service. Additionally, systems administrators are increasingly automating routine tasks."
Despite the overall expected employment decline, the field is large and many positions will become available as administrators retire or leave the field for other reasons. Demand will be strong for network administrators in the following sectors:
- computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services: +19.5 percent
- software publishers: +7.8 percent
- computer systems design and related services: +6.0 percent
- securities, commodity contracts, fund, trusts, and other financial investments and vehicles and related activities: +5.9 percent
- web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services: +5.4 percent
Cybersecurity is another growth area for administrators. Companies are seeking administrators to assist in protecting computer systems from hacking and other computer attacks.
Job opportunities should be best for those with a bachelor's degree, certification, and up-to-date training.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Agile Coaches or Trainers
- App Services Workers
- Architects
- Artificial Intelligence Specialists
- Augmented Reality Developers
- Automation Engineers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Back-End Developers
- Big Data Developers
- Biometrics Systems Specialists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Blockchain Developers
- Cable Television Technicians
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Clinical Data Managers
- Cloud Engineers
- Computer and Office Machine Service Technicians
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Cryptocurrency Specialists
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customer Success Managers
- Cybersecurity Architects
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Processing Technicians
- Data Scientists
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Specialists
- Deepfake Professionals
- Digital Agents
- Digital Designers
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Document Management Specialists
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Enterprise Architects
- Environmental Engineers
- Ergonomists
- ETL Developers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Full Stack Developers/Engineers
- Futurists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Gunsmiths
- Hardware Engineers
- Health Informaticists
- Help Desk Representatives
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Designers
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- JavaScript Developers
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mathematicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Meteorologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Mobile Software Developers
- Model View Controller Developers
- Network Operations Center Engineers
- Network Operations Center Technicians
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Optical Engineers
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Product Owners
- Professional Hackers
- Project Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Salesforce Developers
- Scrum Masters
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Site Reliability Engineers
- Smart Building Systems Designers
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Solutions Architects
- Space Pilots
- Systems Setup Specialists
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Technology Ethicists
- Telecommunications Network Engineers
- Telephone and PBX Installers and Repairers
- Telephone Operators
- Unity Developers
- User Experience Designers
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Webmasters
- Wireless Service Technicians