AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 15-1244.00
Will AI replace Network and Computer Systems Administrators?
Network and Computer Systems Administrators: AI can already handle 5 of 20 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.
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Every task, scored
The 20 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Network and Computer Systems Administrators, from most to least exposed. 5 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.
| Task | AI exposure | Evidence | Model tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes. | Observed | Standard | |
| Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary. | Observed | Frontier | |
| Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Train people in computer system use. | Observed | Standard | |
| Research new technologies by attending seminars, reading trade articles, or taking classes, and implement or recommend the implementation of new technologies. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and to coordinate computer network access and use. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Design, configure, and test computer hardware, networking software and operating system software. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Coordinate with vendors and with company personnel to facilitate purchases. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Monitor network performance to determine whether adjustments are needed and where changes will be needed in the future. | Estimated | Standard | |
| Implement and provide technical support for voice services and equipment, such as private branch exchange, voice mail system, and telecom system. | Estimated | Frontier | |
| Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems. | Observed | Standard | |
| Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Analyze equipment performance records to determine the need for repair or replacement. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Perform routine network startup and shutdown procedures, and maintain control records. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Load computer tapes and disks, and install software and printer paper or forms. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Maintain logs related to network functions, as well as maintenance and repair records. | Estimated | Efficient | |
| Maintain an inventory of parts for emergency repairs. | Estimated | Standard |
Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 4 of 20 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 16 of 20. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.
The model tier this role needs
A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.
Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.
Wages, employment and outlook
- US employment
- 314,340
- Median annual wage
- $99,130
- Middle half of earners
- $78,010 to $126,640
- Projected change, 2024 to 2034
- -4.2%
Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034.
Adjacent roles
The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.
- Computer Network Support Specialists 74% skill overlap, about 9 months to move Exposure43
- Computer Network Architects 71% skill overlap, about 10 months to move Exposure49
- Information Security Analysts 70% skill overlap, about 11 months to move Exposure65
- Computer Systems Analysts 68% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure67
- Information Security Engineers 66% skill overlap, about 12 months to move Exposure58
Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.
Questions about Network and Computer Systems Administrators and AI
Will AI replace Network and Computer Systems Administrators?
AI already handles 5 of the 20 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 44 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by -4.2% from 2024 to 2034.
What is the AI exposure of Network and Computer Systems Administrators?
44 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 4 of the 20 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 16 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.
Which Network and Computer Systems Administrators tasks can AI already do?
The tasks with the highest exposure are: Recommend changes to improve systems and network configurations, and determine hardware or software requirements related to such changes; Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary; Gather data pertaining to customer needs, and use the information to identify, predict, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements. They are three of the 5 tasks that reach 60 or more.
What AI model tier does this role need?
A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.
How many people work as Network and Computer Systems Administrators, and what do they earn?
314,340 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $99,130 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of -4.2% from 2024 to 2034.
How to cite
Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.
JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Network and Computer Systems Administrators. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/network-and-computer-systems-administrators
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