Network Administrator

Running Head: Network Administrator

Network Administrator

Dustin Lambrecht

November 5, 2006

Outline Network Administrator

I. Introduction

II. Methods

III. Summary of Survey Results

IV. Conclusion

Abstract Network Administrator

Baker College of Flint offers degree programs to become a network administrator. Computer networks are a vital part of almost every organization. Network administrators can be employed in a variety of environments, such as office buildings, hospitals, schools, or they can even work for a company that will send them to different sites to fix networks. However, many students do not have a lot of information on this career. This research project proposes that most students do not know a lot about computer networking or what a network administrator does.

Network Administrator

Baker College of Flint offers degree programs to become a network administrator. Computer networks are a vital part of almost every organization. Network administrators can be employed in a variety of environments, such as office buildings, hospitals, schools, or they can even work for a company that will send them to different sites to fix networks. However, many students do not have a lot of information on this career. This research project proposes that most students do not know a lot about computer networking or what a network administrator does.

A written survey was given to the evening Workplace Communications Class at Baker College of Flint, in Flint, Michigan, on October 24, 2006. Twenty students were given the survey and all twenty responded to the thirteen question survey. The survey questions asked participants five demographic questions including their gender, age group, number of years attending Baker, housing status and distance from school to their residence. The survey also asked seven specific questions such as average annual wage, top paying industry, education requirements, number of network administrators, and other questions related to the field of networking. It also asked them to add any additional comments or suggestions. Five of the participants indicated they were male, so there were 15 females, 25 percent male and 75 percent female. The greatest majority of students indicated they were in the 25-36 year old age group, ten or 50 percent, the next group of 18-24 year olds had nine or 45 percent, and the smallest group was 37-49 years old with just one or five percent. More than half, 12 or 60 percent, stated they had been attending Baker for more than two years, seven or 35 percent stated they had been attending for one to two years, and one or five percent stated they had been attending less than one year. Ten or 50 percent selected other as their choice for housing status, six or 30 percent indicated rent, and four or 20 percent indicated that they own their home. Most people live two to five miles away from Baker as seven people or 35 percent selected this choice, six people or 30 percent indicated that they live more than 16 miles away, five people or 25 percent indicated they live between six and 15 miles from Baker, and two or ten percent selected less than one mile. It also asked them to add any additional comments or suggestions.

Participants where asked what they believed to be the average annual wage for a network administrator. The majority, ten or 50 percent, believed the average salary to be 59,000 dollars a year. Eight or 40 percent chose 76,000 dollars a year, and 91,000 and 37,000 both had one vote a piece or five percent each. The correct answer according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth or MDLEG is 59,000 dollars of law (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, 2006). These results lead me to believe that some people may know what a network administrator makes, but many may have just guessed correctly.

Those surveyed where then asked what they believed to be the top paying industry for network administrators. The majority, 12 or 60 percent, believed it to be the telecommunications industry. Six or 30 percent believed it to be the government sector, and banking and health services each received one vote a piece or five percent each. According to MDLEG the highest paying industry for network administrators is the telecommunication industry (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, 2006). From these results it seems that most people know which industry would pay the most to a network administrator.

The next question asked of participants was what they believed to be the minimum education required to become a network administrator. The majority, 13 or 65 percent believed it to be an associate's degree. Four or 20 percent believed it to be a bachelors degree, two or ten percent thought it was a certificate, and one or five percent, thought it was a high school diploma. According to MDLEG the education needed to become a network administrator can come from many places:

On-The-Job Training provided by the employer, a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond High School), an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond High School), a Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation (Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, 2006).

So from these results it appears that very few participants knew the minimum education required to become a network administrator.

Participants where then asked to indicate the estimated number of network administrators in the U.S. The majority, nine or 45 percent, believed it to be 515,000. Six or 30 percent thought it was 278,000, five or 25 percent answered that it was 797,000, and none answered that it was 956,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there where 278,000 network administrators employed in the U.S. in 2004 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006). These results seem to reflect that some participants did know the number of network administrators employed in the U.S., but not the majority.

The next question asked of participants was what a topology is. The majority, 16 or 80 percent thought it was a network configuration. Two or ten percent thought it was a type of software, one or five percent thought it was a single computer, and one or five percent thought it was