Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Network Administrator's pay go, state by state?
A Network Administrator's pay leaves the most room in Rhode Island — about $6,997/mo take-home against $1,289/mo typical rent — and the least in South Dakota.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $6,997/mo | $1,289/mo | 18% |
| Maryland | $7,000/mo | $1,683/mo | 24% |
| Ohio | $6,283/mo | $986/mo | 16% |
| District of Columbia | $7,159/mo | $1,900/mo | 27% |
| Minnesota | $6,431/mo | $1,230/mo | 19% |
| Virginia | $6,697/mo | $1,547/mo | 23% |
| Oregon | $6,573/mo | $1,431/mo | 22% |
| Washington | $6,764/mo | $1,641/mo | 24% |
| New Jersey | $6,750/mo | $1,656/mo | 25% |
| New York | $6,689/mo | $1,621/mo | 24% |
| Colorado | $6,723/mo | $1,659/mo | 25% |
| Connecticut | $6,499/mo | $1,483/mo | 23% |
| North Carolina | $6,118/mo | $1,147/mo | 19% |
| California | $6,919/mo | $1,969/mo | 28% |
| Massachusetts | $6,646/mo | $1,716/mo | 26% |
| Illinois | $6,105/mo | $1,246/mo | 20% |
| New Hampshire | $6,283/mo | $1,424/mo | 23% |
| Georgia | $6,165/mo | $1,320/mo | 21% |
| Michigan | $5,787/mo | $1,072/mo | 19% |
| Texas | $6,003/mo | $1,328/mo | 22% |
| Iowa | $5,550/mo | $932/mo | 17% |
| Nebraska | $5,613/mo | $1,017/mo | 18% |
| South Carolina | $5,704/mo | $1,131/mo | 20% |
| Wisconsin | $5,600/mo | $1,033/mo | 18% |
| Arizona | $5,962/mo | $1,419/mo | 24% |
| Oklahoma | $5,450/mo | $970/mo | 18% |
| Alaska | $5,811/mo | $1,361/mo | 23% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,624/mo | $1,176/mo | 21% |
| Delaware | $5,738/mo | $1,321/mo | 23% |
| Hawaii | $6,337/mo | $1,927/mo | 30% |
| Vermont | $5,591/mo | $1,207/mo | 22% |
| Alabama | $5,348/mo | $967/mo | 18% |
| Missouri | $5,364/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| North Dakota | $5,268/mo | $911/mo | 17% |
| Idaho | $5,500/mo | $1,163/mo | 21% |
| Florida | $5,871/mo | $1,542/mo | 26% |
| Kentucky | $5,245/mo | $918/mo | 18% |
| Louisiana | $5,350/mo | $1,028/mo | 19% |
| New Mexico | $5,339/mo | $1,034/mo | 19% |
| Utah | $5,679/mo | $1,396/mo | 25% |
| Kansas | $5,290/mo | $1,025/mo | 19% |
| Mississippi | $5,121/mo | $933/mo | 18% |
| Tennessee | $5,296/mo | $1,111/mo | 21% |
| Arkansas | $5,011/mo | $903/mo | 18% |
| Indiana | $5,096/mo | $1,022/mo | 20% |
| Montana | $5,070/mo | $1,031/mo | 20% |
| Maine | $5,125/mo | $1,104/mo | 22% |
| Nevada | $5,357/mo | $1,478/mo | 28% |
| Wyoming | $4,856/mo | $979/mo | 20% |
| West Virginia | $4,386/mo | $848/mo | 19% |
| South Dakota | $4,341/mo | $910/mo | 21% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.