Network and Computer Systems Administrators Salary
In Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, network and computer systems administrators earn $122,950 at the median, or about $59.11 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $192K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $117,667 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $123K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About network and computer systems administrators
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson sits well above the national pay line for network and computer systems administrators, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,857/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson offers a genuinely strong financial position for network and computer systems administratorss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for network and computer systems administrators in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $110K | $109K |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $83K | $89K |
| Salisbury | $79K | $83K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $125K | $115K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level network and computer systems administrators (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $192K or more, a $118K spread from bottom to top.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Network and Computer Systems Administrators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $118K | +19% | 9,230 |
| New Jersey | $116K | +17% | 9,280 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +12% | 8,270 |
| District of Columbia | $111K | +12% | 1,320 |
| Virginia | $110K | +11% | 12,430 |
| California | $106K | +7% | 26,170 |
| Connecticut | $106K | +7% | 2,170 |
| New York | $106K | +7% | 18,220 |
| Washington | $104K | +5% | 8,600 |
| Nevada | $103K | +4% | 1,980 |
| Colorado | $103K | +4% | 8,360 |
| Rhode Island | $103K | +4% | 1,060 |
| Oregon | $102K | +3% | 4,880 |
| Minnesota | $102K | +3% | 4,550 |
| Hawaii | $101K | +2% | 1,490 |
| Texas | $101K | +2% | 34,840 |
| New Hampshire | $100K | +1% | 1,660 |
| Illinois | $100K | +1% | 9,820 |
| Ohio | $98K | -2% | 15,130 |
| Alaska | $98K | -2% | 920 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 9,190 |
| Utah | $96K | -3% | 2,050 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -4% | 13,850 |
| Florida | $95K | -4% | 26,890 |
| Delaware | $94K | -5% | 850 |
| Michigan | $93K | -6% | 6,900 |
| South Carolina | $93K | -7% | 3,580 |
| Idaho | $92K | -7% | 1,010 |
| New Mexico | $91K | -8% | 1,220 |
| Arizona | $90K | -9% | 5,810 |
| Louisiana | $90K | -9% | 1,790 |
| Tennessee | $88K | -11% | 5,070 |
| Kentucky | $87K | -12% | 2,800 |
| North Dakota | $86K | -13% | 930 |
| Pennsylvania | $86K | -13% | 7,750 |
| Vermont | $86K | -13% | 560 |
| Nebraska | $85K | -15% | 1,560 |
| Indiana | $85K | -15% | 4,310 |
| Iowa | $85K | -15% | 3,110 |
| Oklahoma | $84K | -15% | 2,580 |
| Maine | $84K | -15% | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -16% | 8,470 |
| Kansas | $83K | -16% | 4,100 |
| Arkansas | $82K | -18% | 1,750 |
| Alabama | $81K | -18% | 5,040 |
| Montana | $81K | -18% | 850 |
| Missouri | $81K | -18% | 5,810 |
| Mississippi | $80K | -19% | 1,380 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -24% | 610 |
| South Dakota | $75K | -24% | 1,690 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -25% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track network and computer systems administrators salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a network and computer systems administrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for network and computer systems administrators in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new network and computer systems administrators typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,466/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is network and computer systems administrator a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $123K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for network and computer systems administrators?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do network and computer systems administrators make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $122,950 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,430, and experienced network and computer systems administrators can clear $192,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,423/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 25% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a network and computer systems administrators salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median network and computer systems administrators salary is worth about $117,667 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do network and computer systems administrators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.