Network and Computer Systems Administrators Salary
In Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, network and computer systems administrators earn $110,640 at the median, or about $53.19 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $113,396 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 24% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $111K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Durham-Chapel Hill sits well above the national pay line for network and computer systems administrators, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $99K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for network and computer systems administrators in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $90K | $92K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $103K | $105K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $89K | $95K |
| Winston-Salem | $95K | $103K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level network and computer systems administrators (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $101K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for network and computer systems administrators in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new network and computer systems administrators typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,912/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $111K here vs. $99K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for network and computer systems administrators?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do network and computer systems administrators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $110,640 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,200, and experienced network and computer systems administrators can clear $166,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 25.3% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median network and computer systems administrators salary is worth about $113,396 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.