Share and intensity of work current AI systems can materially affect.
SOC 15-1244
Network and Computer Systems Administrators AI displacement risk
Monitoring, routine maintenance, backups, and configuration tasks are being absorbed by cloud services and AI-driven operations tooling. Troubleshooting complex failures, security implementation, and physical infrastructure judgment remain human-led.
Likely potential for exposed tasks to move to software after workflow integration.
On-premises-heavy employers keep traditional administration demand longer. Administrators who move up into cloud architecture, automation, or security keep strong prospects.
Distribution
Where Network and Computer Systems Administrators sits across 620 tracked roles
Displacement pressure 38 — higher than 65% of the 620 occupations tracked on displacement.ai.
Score version
This page uses Seed model v0.4 (seed-v0.4-2026-05), last reviewed 2026-08-08. Directional occupation-level planning model using hand-reviewed public research, task exposure estimates, wage context, and transition-pathway assumptions.
20 O*NET task statements matched to SOC 15-1244. The displayed task profile combines these official task statements with the current public score model.
Median wage context: $99,130 (May 2025, US national). The latest BLS row matched SOC 15-1244.
Scores are planning signals, not forecasts. Local hiring demand, employer-specific workflows, licensing, and credentials must be validated before making career decisions.
2030 economic stress test
How Anthropic's scenarios classify Network and Computer Systems Administrators
SOC 15-1244 places this role in the paper's cognitive occupation group. These group-level outcomes do not change the 38/100 role score and are not an occupation forecast.
+0.4% group wage
-0.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 2.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +1.6% GDP and 3.9% unemployment.
-0.3% group wage
-3.9% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 4.5% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +8.3% GDP and 4.6% unemployment.
-11.5% group wage
-21.5% cognitive employment since mid-2026; 17.9% cognitive unemployment.
Economy-wide: +32.4% GDP and 11.9% unemployment.
Compare the assumptions and limitations across all three scenarios. Source: The Anthropic Institute Working Paper No. 2026-02.
Official task evidence
O*NET task matches for Network and Computer Systems Administrators
The current evidence import matched 20 task statements from Task Statements 31.0 (August 2026). These rows are used as a grounding layer for judging which parts of the occupation are repeatable, language-heavy, analytical, social, physical, or compliance-sensitive.
Dataset31.0 (August 2026)
Matched tasks20
SOC15-1244
- Core task / ID 1319
Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
- Core task / ID 1317
Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations.
- Core task / ID 15205
Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system problems, and replace defective components when necessary.
- Core task / ID 1318
Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
- Core task / ID 15206
Configure, monitor, and maintain email applications or virus protection software.
- Core task / ID 1324
Confer with network users about solutions to existing system problems.
Source: O*NET Resource Center, Task Statements. Raw import target: data/raw/onet/task-statements-31-0.txt.
Task profile
Where AI changes the work
Monitor network performance
Exposure 58, automation 32%, augmentation 62%.
O*NET evidence: Operate master consoles to monitor the performance of computer systems and networks and... (ID 1320)
Diagnose and resolve system problems
Exposure 44, automation 20%, augmentation 58%.
O*NET evidence: Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve hardware, software, or other network and system pro... (ID 15205)
Perform backups and recovery operations
Exposure 56, automation 34%, augmentation 52%.
O*NET evidence: Perform data backups and disaster recovery operations. (ID 1317)
Implement network security measures
Exposure 46, automation 22%, augmentation 60%.
O*NET evidence: Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures to protect data, software, an... (ID 1319)
TaskExposureAutomationAugmentation
Monitor network performance5832%62%
Diagnose and resolve system problems4420%58%
Perform backups and recovery operations5634%52%
Implement network security measures4622%60%
Transition pathways
Adjacent moves that preserve existing skills
role redesign
ModerateCloud Administrator
Training horizon: 3-6 months. Skill overlap 76. Wage preservation signal 112.
- Earn a cloud certification
- Migrate a service end-to-end
- Automate routine maintenance
adjacent role
ModerateSite Reliability Engineer
Training horizon: 6-12 months. Skill overlap 66. Wage preservation signal 124.
- Learn monitoring-as-code
- Practice incident postmortems
- Build automation runbooks
Comparison guides
Compare the next move before you commit
3-6 months
Network and Computer Systems Administrators to Cloud Administrator
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Network and Computer Systems Administrators into Cloud Administrator.
6-12 months
Network and Computer Systems Administrators to Site Reliability Engineer
Compare AI displacement pressure, wage preservation, skill overlap, training time, and first proof project for moving from Network and Computer Systems Administrators into Site Reliability Engineer.
What the AI risk score means for Network and Computer Systems Administrators
The displacement pressure score for Network and Computer Systems Administrators is 38. That score blends task exposure, automation pressure, augmentation potential, wage vulnerability, transition feasibility, and source confidence. It is designed to help workers and workforce teams decide where to act first, not to claim a specific date when a job will disappear.
For this role, the clearest risk pattern is visible at the task level. Perform backups and recovery operations carries 34% automation pressure, while Monitor network performance carries 62% augmentation potential. That means the best response is usually a targeted redesign of work: move away from repeatable production tasks and toward judgment, exception handling, coordination, stakeholder context, and accountable use of AI tools.
Labor-market context and wage risk
Median wage: $99,130 (May 2025, US national). Employment context: Broad IT operations role reshaped by cloud migration. Typical education: Bachelor's degree common.
Wage vulnerability is 34, while transition feasibility is 70. A high wage-vulnerability score means workers should pay close attention to salary preservation before making a move. A high transition-feasibility score means there are adjacent paths that can reuse existing skills without requiring a complete career reset.
- Moderate displacement pressure
- Cloud migration changes the task mix
- Automation skills raise wages
Upskilling priorities
Skills that make this role more resilient
The safest upskilling plan starts with skills already close to the work. For Network and Computer Systems Administrators, the strongest near-term skill priorities are listed below. These are useful whether the goal is to stay in the role, move to a redesigned version of the role, or transition into an adjacent occupation.
Network troubleshooting
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Cloud administration
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Automation scripting
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
Security implementation
Build proof of this skill through a work sample, checklist, dashboard, case note, workflow map, or portfolio artifact tied to the transition paths on this page.
90-day transition plan
The most practical next step is not to wait for a layoff or a full role redesign. Use the next 90 days to create evidence that you can operate in a safer, more AI-augmented version of the work.
- In the first 30 days, document the repetitive tasks in your current work and identify where AI can reduce drafting, lookup, classification, or reporting time.
- By 60 days, complete one small project connected to Cloud Administrator, such as earn a cloud certification.
- By 90 days, compare internal openings and external postings for Cloud Administrator or Site Reliability Engineer and update your resume around measurable workflow outcomes.
FAQ
Questions about AI and Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Will AI replace Network and Computer Systems Administrators?
Monitoring, routine maintenance, backups, and configuration tasks are being absorbed by cloud services and AI-driven operations tooling. Troubleshooting complex failures, security implementation, and physical infrastructure judgment remain human-led. The better planning signal is not full replacement, but which tasks become automated, which tasks become AI-assisted, and which responsibilities still need human judgment.
Which parts of Network and Computer Systems Administrators work are most exposed to AI?
Perform backups and recovery operations and Monitor network performance show the strongest automation pressure in this model. Monitor network performance and Implement network security measures are better treated as AI-augmented work.
What should Network and Computer Systems Administrators learn next?
Start with Network troubleshooting, Cloud administration, Automation scripting. The most practical adjacent paths in this model are Cloud Administrator and Site Reliability Engineer.
How should this score be used?
Use it as a planning signal, not a prediction. Confirm local hiring demand, wages, licensing, credentials, and employer adoption before making a career move.
Sources
Evidence trail
International Labour Organization / 20 May 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational ExposureMcKinsey Global Institute / 26 July 2023Generative AI and the Future of Work in AmericaO*NET Resource Center / Database 31.0 (August 2026)Occupation, Task, Skill, and Work-Activity DataUS Bureau of Labor Statistics / May 2025 estimates (released 15 May 2026)Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics