| Think about how many medium to large scale | | | | A degree in this subset of IT, in a nutshell, |
| businesses in the United States use computer | | | | provides you with skills in managing, designing, |
| networks and how critical the stability of those | | | | installing, and troubleshooting network systems. |
| networks are to their daily operations and | | | | There are varying levels of degrees from |
| ultimately their bottom line. If a network goes | | | | certificates to bachelor's. You will want to do |
| down, it often means that the employees who | | | | research on individual degree programs to ensure |
| depend on it are faced with an unproductive | | | | that upon completion, you will be armed with an |
| workday and the business suffers greatly. That is | | | | education level that will get you the job you want. |
| why there is such high demand for Computer | | | | If you thrive on problem solving, employ logical or |
| Networking Tech's across all industry types. | | | | methodical thinking skills, and are a strong |
| Another name for this line of work is Network | | | | communicator, you may be an ideal candidate for |
| Administration and it involves managing the | | | | this line of work. Degree programs focus on |
| communication infrastructure of computers. | | | | factors such as configuration and installation of |
| About the Job | | | | network services, security solutions for LAN's |
| All employees have their own workstation, which | | | | (Local Area Networks), interface issues between |
| they perform a variety of tasks on from basic | | | | private and public networks, information systems, |
| email to complex software apps specific to their | | | | network security, or system performance and |
| job function. When there are problems with the | | | | reliability. Some computer networking degree |
| network that require a higher level of professional | | | | programs focus more on aspects of wireless |
| knowledge, a Network Administrator steps in to | | | | services and the unique challenges associated with |
| help resolve the situation. Workstations and | | | | this aspect of networking. |
| servers are connected on the network and | | | | Compensation Factors |
| communicate using a variety of protocols such as | | | | Salaries for Network Administrators vary |
| FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or TCPIP | | | | depending on several factors including level of |
| (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). | | | | education, experience, employer type, and |
| One way to think of it is to imagine a series of | | | | geographic location. According to the US Bureau |
| "highways" that, when blocked, must be freed up | | | | of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for |
| so that information and services can again flow as | | | | networking professionals is $61,250. Some |
| they should. A career in networking entails | | | | metropolitan markets such as New York pay an |
| installation and maintenance of server operating | | | | average of $83,000 or Washington D.C. with an |
| systems, software, network lines, routers, and | | | | average of $84,000. In larger companies there |
| switches. In addition, you may be expected to | | | | are often first and second line hierarchies where |
| administer IP addresses or create and maintain | | | | unresolved issues becomes escalated. Often, |
| user accounts. The size of the company you | | | | those who have proven to be effective can |
| work for often dictates how specialized your job | | | | move into top tier levels boasting higher salaries; |
| is. Smaller companies tend to look for someone | | | | however, some of the duties out in the field do |
| who is more of a "jack of all trades" and can | | | | not use this approach. |
| adapt to a myriad of networking needs and | | | | If you are an analytical person, enjoy solving |
| problems, whereas larger companies tend to silo | | | | problems, and have an interest in technology, a |
| positions into more specialized roles. | | | | computer networking degree could be just the |
| Computer Networking Degree Programs | | | | ticket. |