Network Administrator labor category
Network Administrator is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $79–$184/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Network Administrator does
On government contracts, this role involves monitoring network performance, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and managing hardware like routers, switches, and firewalls. Experience levels are generally tiered based on a combination of education, certifications, and years of experience. A Level I position typically requires a bachelor degree and entry level skills, whereas Level IV roles require significant expertise to manage complex infrastructure architectures. Transitioning service members often find that their military networking backgrounds align closely with these requirements, especially if they have relevant certifications. As you advance through levels, the scope of responsibility shifts from task execution to high level network design and long term infrastructure strategy.
Typical Network Administrator duties
- Install and maintain network hardware and software systems to ensure optimal uptime and security.
- Monitor network performance metrics to proactively identify and resolve bandwidth bottlenecks or connectivity failures.
- Manage user accounts, permissions, and access controls to maintain compliance with security policies.
- Configure and troubleshoot network protocols, firewalls, and routing equipment in accordance with technical specifications.
- Develop and maintain documentation for network configurations, standard operating procedures, and disaster recovery plans.
Network Administrator levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | Bachelors | $79/hr – $123/hr | $102/hr | $88k–$117k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | Bachelors | $96/hr – $144/hr | $117/hr | $102k–$136k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | Bachelors | $115/hr – $184/hr | $147/hr | $128k–$170k |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | Bachelors | Not enough data | Not enough data | — |
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $79/hr – $123/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $102/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $88k–$117k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $96/hr – $144/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $117/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $102k–$136k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $115/hr – $184/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $147/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $128k–$170k
- Most common education
- Bachelors
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- Not enough data
- GSA ceiling, median
- Not enough data
- Rough salary estimate
- —
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 1,130 rates.
Common certifications: CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC), Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), Security+, Network+
Clearance for this labor category
About 8% of Network Administrator GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Network Administrator
Sample Network Administrator resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Managed a mission critical network supporting 500+ users, achieving a 99.9 percent uptime rating over a 24 month period.
- Led the integration of a new $2M network infrastructure upgrade, reducing data latency by 15 percent across all regional nodes.
- Automated routine network configuration backups for 40+ enterprise switches, saving the team approximately 10 manual labor hours per week.
What level Network Administrator are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 504 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Network Administrator. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Network Administrator labor category: quick answers
How does my military experience map to civilian network roles?
Military experience in signals or communications often translates directly into civilian networking roles. Emphasize your hands on experience with hardware and troubleshooting rather than specific unit procedures.
Are professional certifications required for this role?
Yes, certifications like CompTIA Security+, CCNA, or Network+ are highly valued in the government contracting sector. These certifications often satisfy the baseline requirements for Information Assurance roles.
How do pay rates change as I move up in levels?
Pay scales increase significantly as you move from Level I to Level IV. Advancement is usually driven by your ability to manage larger environments, master complex network architectures, and hold advanced professional certifications.
Do I need a security clearance to work as a Network Administrator?
While only a small percentage of general network roles require a high level clearance, many government contracts do necessitate one. Possessing an active security clearance can make you a more competitive candidate for federal projects.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
On government contracts, this role involves monitoring network performance, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and managing hardware like routers, switches, and firewalls. Experience levels are generally tiered based on a combination of education, certifications, and years of experience. A Level I position typically requires a bachelor degree and entry level skills, whereas Level IV roles require significant expertise to manage complex infrastructure architectures. Transitioning service members often find that their military networking backgrounds align closely with these requirements, especially if they have relevant certifications. As you advance through levels, the scope of responsibility shifts from task execution to high level network design and long term infrastructure strategy.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Network Administrator level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
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