Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Machines can already do 37% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 66%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Network and Computer Systems Administrators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 37% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 34% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 66% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 314,340 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $99,130 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 63% for contact with people.
- Also called: LAN Administrator (Local Area Network Administrator), LAN Specialist (Local Area Network Specialist), Network Administrator (Network Admin), Network Analyst.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations | 16% | 15% to 45% | |
| Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary | 13% | 3% to 30% | |
| Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware | 7% | 77% to 97% | |
| Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations | 6% | 65% to 92% | |
| Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems | 6% | 30% to 60% | |
| Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future | 6% | 40% to 80% | |
| Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software | 6% | 28% to 65% | |
| Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes | 5% | 70% to 90% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills network and computer systems administrators use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Food Scientists and Technologists50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $88,720
- Quality Control Systems Managers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $126,060
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $82,890
- Electrical Engineers64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $120,630
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Network and Computer Systems Administrators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of network and computer systems administrators?
Machines can do 37% of the tasks of network and computer systems administrators today and 66% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 15-1244.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Network and Computer Systems Administrators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/network-and-computer-systems-administrators/