Network Administration Training
Become a Network Administrator
Computer networks are the systems between two or more computers and peripheral devices allowing them to communicate with one another. Within computer networking there are several different career paths, including, network administrator, network engineer, network technician, network programmer and network/information systems manager.
Network Administration
Network administrators and network engineers are titles that are used interchangeably for essentially the same position. Both positions usually entail configuring and managing local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). In companies where both titles are used, the difference is that usually administrators focus on day-to-day operations, while the engineers focus on upgrades, testing and product evaluation.
Network technicians focus on the set-up, troubleshooting and repair of equipment and software. Network programmers generally write programs that aid in network analysis; and systems managers supervise the work of all of the above, as well as on long-term planning and strategizing.
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Network Administration: Education & Training
Educational requirements for a career in computer networking usually include a bachelor’s degree. There are some 2-year or shorter programs offered by community colleges and trade schools, which are often sufficient for a technician or support position, however for administrator, engineer, programmer and manager positions, a bachelor's degree is the preferred form of education. The most common majors for computer networking positions are computer science, mathematics or information systems.
Network Administration: Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006 median annual salary of network and computer systems administrators was $65,260.