Network and Computer Systems Administrators Salary
In Salinas, CA, network and computer systems administrators earn $98,340 at the median, or about $47.28 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.04), so that salary is closer to $90,187 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,684/month, about 43.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $98K get you in Salinas?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salinas’s Regional Price Parity (109.04). 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 Salinas
Network and computer systems administrators pay in Salinas tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,684/month, which is 44.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 109.04), so groceries and services cost more too. 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 Salinas, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $106K | $94K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $130K | $112K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $105K | $94K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $133K | $121K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salinas, CA
Entry-level network and computer systems administrators (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $64K 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)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a network and computer systems administrator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salinas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 44.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,684/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for network and computer systems administrators in Salinas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new network and computer systems administrators typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,279/month. At HUD’s $2,684/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Salinas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Salinas compare to the national average for network and computer systems administrators?
Salinas pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 109.04), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do network and computer systems administrators make in Salinas, CA?
The median is $98,340 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,310, and experienced network and computer systems administrators can clear $134,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Salinas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,024/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,684/month, which eats 44.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a network and computer systems administrators salary go in Salinas?
Salinas has a Regional Price Parity of 109.04 (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 $90,187 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.