Network Administrator

A Network Administrator designs, implements, and maintains computer networks in Australian organisations, ensuring systems are secure, reliable, and perform to service standards. They configure network hardware such as routers, switches, and firewalls, monitor network traffic and user access, and respond to connectivity issues and security incidents. The role requires knowledge of networking protocols, operating systems, and Australian regulatory compliance standards such as the Privacy Act 1988 and security frameworks aligned with NIST or ASD Essential Eight.

Configure and deploy network equipment including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points using vendor-specific interfaces and command-line tools. Monitor network performance, bandwidth utilisation, and latency using network monitoring software such as Nagios, Zabbix, or Splunk to identify bottlenecks and faults. Manage user access controls and authentication systems, including Active Directory administration, role-based access control, and multi-factor authentication implementation. Design network segmentation and VLAN architecture to isolate traffic and improve security posture in accordance with ASD Essential Eight controls. Perform regular backups and disaster recovery testing to ensure business continuity and compliance with Australian Privacy Act data security obligations. Conduct network security audits and vulnerability scanning using tools such as Nessus or OpenVAS to identify and remediate security weaknesses. Troubleshoot and resolve network connectivity issues including DNS, DHCP, VPN, and routing problems using diagnostic tools and methodical fault-finding. Document network topology, configurations, IP addressing schemes, and change logs to maintain an accurate and auditable inventory of network assets.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The technical skills are learnable, but the real grind is on-call support and after-hours emergency callouts when networks go down at 2am. You'll also need to constantly reskill as vendors push new tools and protocols, and security threats evolve faster than most people can keep up with.

Regional Australia has fewer dedicated roles. In practice most roles are metro-based because that's where large organisations needing full-time network teams sit. Remote work is possible once established, but early career means on-site time in major cities.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2631, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adjust ICT system capacitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Cloud technologiescore
• Digital Literacycore
• Escalation Managementcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• ServiceNow IT Service Managementcore
• SLA and KPI Adherencecore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• ABAP
• Acquire system component
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliance
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Microsoft Excel Data Management
• Microsoft SharePoint Administration
• Power BI Reporting and Dashboards
• Process Improvement Identification
• Quality Assurance Monitoring
• Regulatory and Legislative Awareness
• Report Writing
• Team Collaboration

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Network Administrator workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026