Computer User Support Specialists vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators: $62K vs $99K Median Pay

Computer User Support Specialists vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators: what changes?

Consider Computer User Support Specialists if you want to provide technical assistance to computer users. Consider Network and Computer Systems Administrators if you would rather install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Entry credentials differ: Computer User Support Specialists, some college, no degree; Network and Computer Systems Administrators, bachelor's degree.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Computer User Support Specialists and Network and Computer Systems Administrators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Computer User Support Specialists

National median pay (2025): $61,860
Route into the job: Some college, no degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Oversee the daily performance of computer systems.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 39,700

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Computer User Support Specialists brief

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

National median pay (2025): $99,130
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 13,400

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 4.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Network and Computer Systems Administrators brief

How the national numbers differ

Network and Computer Systems Administrators has the edge on median pay

Network and Computer Systems Administrators is at $99,130, compared with $61,860 for Computer User Support Specialists.

Computer User Support Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Computer User Support Specialists is at 39,700 annual openings, compared with 13,400 annual openings for Network and Computer Systems Administrators.

Typical preparation differs.

Computer User Support Specialists: Some college, no degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Network and Computer Systems Administrators: Bachelor's degree Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Computer User Support Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Computer User Support Specialists is at -3.5% projected growth, compared with -4.1% projected growth for Network and Computer Systems Administrators.

52.2/ 100

Computer User Support Specialists

53.5/ 100

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Computer User Support Specialists vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Dimension	Computer User Support Specialists	Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Median pay (2025)	$61,860	$99,130
Pay percentile	51.3 percentile	82.2 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-3.5%	-4.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	39,700	13,400
2025 employment	750,600	323,600
How you qualify	Some college, no degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	Bachelor's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

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Computer User Support Specialists vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Computer User Support Specialists

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

How the national numbers differ

Network and Computer Systems Administrators has the edge on median pay

Computer User Support Specialists has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Computer User Support Specialists has the edge on projected growth

Computer User Support Specialists vs Network and Computer Systems Administrators

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