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As a network security administrator, your job is to tighten security protocols so that no one has permissions or access to any information on your company's network that you haven't allowed them to have. This includes securing your company's routers and servers, protecting against viruses and intruders, and helping your company to create a policy about its network security. To do this job, you'll need both education and experience; almost 90 percent of network security administrators have at least a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network.

Network security administrator salaries: job security that pays well

Like many information technology careers, security network administration pays well, though salaries vary by location. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov, 2010) reports that security network administrators earned a median salary of $67,710 in 2009, with the top 10 percent of administrators earning $105,970. However, salary information from other sources indicates that administrators may have higher median earnings.

The 2011 technology salary report by Robert Half International listed the salary range for a network security administrator during 2010 as $77,750 to $106,500. That salary range increased by 4.3 percent during 2011 to $81,000-$111,250.

Salary.com's data falls between the BLS numbers and those provided by Robert Half International with a median U.S. salary of $79,695. The top 10 percent earned $130,375 on average.

These salary figures vary significantly by location. The BLS identified these states as top-paying:

1. New Jersey
2. Maryland
3. California
4. District of Columbia
5. New York

However, these five states are among the top eight most expensive states in which to live. If you want to find the best-paying network security administrator jobs relative to the cost of living, try these cities and states:

1. Dallas, Texas: $85,050-$116,812
2. Charlotte, N.C.: $84,240-$115,700
3. Houston, Texas: $83,997-$115,366
4. Salt Lake City, Utah: $81,000-$111,250
5. Saint Louis, Mo.: $81,000-$111,250

How to become a network security administrator

To compete for top-paying network security administrator jobs in the location of your choice, you need to have the right education and the right training. According to a survey conducted by the Occupational Information Network, around two-thirds of administrators have a bachelor's degree and around 23 percent have a graduate degree.

In addition to a college degree, network security professionals must be prepared to keep up with the continuing education required to stay current with constantly changing technology. The SANS 2008 Salary & Certification Survey reported that security administrators spent 82 hours per year on formal education, second only to those IT professionals in academe. Computer training centers make it possible for you to get security certifications and other advanced network security administrator training online.

Job outlook for network security administrators

Networking and security both made Robert Half International report's list of in-demand technology skills for 2011. In the same report, more than 51 percent of CIOs indicated it's a challenge to find skilled IT professionals. The demand for network security administrators is present today and is only expected to increase. According to the BLS, jobs for network security administrators are supposed to grow 23 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than average compared to other occupations.

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